1yo Easter Egger hasn't laid for months

[newchickenmom512]

Hi! I'm a first-time poster and first-time chicken owner . I have a flock of 4, all 13 months old. They all started laying around 6 months and 3/4 have consistently been laying an egg a day since. But my easter egger stopped laying in September (~5 months ago, when she was about 8 months old). At first I thought it could be because she was molting, or because they were all getting over fowl pox. But now it's been 5 months. I've checked all over multiple times and haven't found a hidden nest. All the other hens are fine and laying consistently. Her comb is bright red, she's eating and drinking fine, has great energy and isn't itching. Any ideas?

 

[sourland]

Generally Easter Eggers do not have the yearly production that many other breeds do, but they frequently have a longer productive life time. As the day light period increases, she will start another laying cycle.

 

[nuthatched]

Most birds don't lay in winter, easter eggs can be finicky.

 

[newchickenmom512]

Thanks! Yeah I’m surprised because the others have kept up their laying and we live quite far south, so we were still getting at least 12 hours of sunlight when she stopped laying. But hopefully that’s all it is!

 

[aart]

Her comb is bright red, she's eating and drinking fine, has great energy and isn't itching. Any ideas?

Do you free range?

 

[newchickenmom512]

Do you free range?

Yes, but just in our backyard.

 

[aart]

Yes, but just in our backyard.

Still could be lots of hiding places there.

Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[jfmiroslav]

Hi! I'm a first-time poster and first-time chicken owner . I have a flock of 4, all 13 months old. They all started laying around 6 months and 3/4 have consistently been laying an egg a day since. But my easter egger stopped laying in September (~5 months ago, when she was about 8 months old). At first I thought it could be because she was molting, or because they were all getting over fowl pox. But now it's been 5 months. I've checked all over multiple times and haven't found a hidden nest. All the other hens are fine and laying consistently. Her comb is bright red, she's eating and drinking fine, has great energy and isn't itching. Any ideas?

We have 1 EE; the first year lay great, the second year only lay eggs for two months about every other day. The third year (2023) she lay also for almost two months maybe 3 eggs a week. Our Orphington and Australop are much more consistent. We live in SoCal.... so maybe too hot in summers? (90<), and too cold in winter? ... so laying only in Spring?... lazy girl.