1 of 6 hens inconsistent laying - why?

[SassShenn]

I have 6 hens with 1 roo, all hatched together and housed in the same pen, on the same food, same everything. They've all been laying consistently (6 eggs a day total from them), but the past week or so, I'm only getting 5 eggs a day. I'm not sure which hen is not laying (I've only ever actually caught one in the act!), but it seems weird that only 1 of the 6 suddenly stopped. If it were seasonal or light related, or nutritionally related, I would think it would be more than 1. Help! I'm newer to raising quail so want to cover any bases on my end if there are things I should be aware of or should check to ensure my girls are in the best health.

 

[Perris]

Don't worry. They are living beings, even if mass produced production breeds, and they vary. It's probably just the 1st one going into moult.

 

[SassShenn]

Don't worry. They are living beings, even if mass produced production breeds, and they vary. It's probably just the 1st one going into moult.

would the be holding already if they're only a few months old? They've been laying consistently for several weeks so far and don't have any difference in feather appearance. I'm just not sure if there are other things I should look for/be aware of with our hens with onesud1 suddenly laying different but it sounds like that can be a variation of normal?

 

[Perris]

I didn't realize they were that young; unlikely to be molting then, but variability is definitely to be expected. They will be settling in to their own laying patterns. And one may be hiding a nest if you let them free range.

 

[Sussex19]

I don't know anything about quail, but could it be that its a differant one each day not laying? So they might all be slowing down a little rather then one in particular?

 

[Nabiki]

It could be that one is feeling a bit stressed. They stop laying if they're stressed. It might not even be one hen that stopped, but the others taking a one day break.