2 1/2 years old light sussex stopped egg laying - seems to be not broody - anyone help?

[Mackie n chicks]

Izzy our 2 1/2 year old light sussex has stopped laying - she has always laid every day if not every alternate. She has laid one small egg this week and they are usually gigantic!

She has had thick poo below her vent for the last couple of weeks we have cleaned up. Could she have egg binding? She has just stayed in the coop for 1 1/2 hours and produced nothing. She seems to be eating and strutting about fine but is she just covering up her illness for as long as possible? If it is egg binding can anyone tell me what to look for if I look inside her vent?

Has anyone any ideas?

Thanks

 

[Wyandottes7]

Is it possible that she could be beginning to molt? Molting hens will lose their feathers and stop laying. Some may stop a little while before beginning to molt, while others will stop laying while molting.

 

[Mackie n chicks]

Thanks - do they moult even at this time of year? I only thought they moulted in the autumn or am I completely wrong (unsurprisingly!)