5+ month laying hiatus!

[MamaVP]

Hello, I’m new to the group and I’m also a new-ish Chicken owner. Why won’t my 27 month old Easter Egger lay eggs anymore?
Born Sept ‘18, gave her first blue egg in March ‘19 (our only “colored egg layer), stopped laying in July during a very stressful time- had to rehome our aggressive Roo which created some flock turmoil, heavy worm load that brought everyone’s immune systems down, then we had a breakout of respiratory illness, spent several weeks getting on top of that, then just when temps cooled off and I expected her to start laying again she began her first mold (light molt) in mid-September. I’ve experimented with food changes, their water has added supplements, oyster shells and baked chicken shells are offered at all times, I tried all the organic and non versions of layer pellets, they get meal worms, black sunflower oil seeds, once a week meat scraps, and twice a week scratch. They also free range all day every day in a safe backyard and shouldn’t have any predator stressors.
I know for certain she’s not laying in a secret nest somewhere- our yard isn’t that big. Her comb is very pale and she never even goes into the nesting boxes anymore- just free ranges with her friends and comes for treats like all the other girls. She is of good weight, great appetite, and seems happy, JUST WONT LAY!
So what could be the deal? Do some chickens go sterile after an illness? Does she have some rare laying issue I don’t know about? We’ve ruled out worms, no signs of respiratory illness returning (sadly I’m now an expert st spotting the signs!), and her diet seems on point.
Any insights, oh wise ones? What am I missing? Pic of my girl attached...

 

[Acre4Me]

Light is one possibility. Not sure where you live, but there is less daylight in winter, so she isn’t getting the signal to lay eggs. If you don’t supplement light so the pineal gland senses enough daylength, then she likely won’t lay until the day length increases sufficiently sometime in late winter/ early spring. Even if you started supplementing light tomorrow, it would take a few weeks for the process to start and produce an egg.

Since she was a healthy layer before, it is likely she is just fine.
FWIW, we have a 21 month old BJG that hasn’t laid an egg for many many months. She was stressed, then ill (nearly died), then recovered, and now hugely molting - looks terrible but is perky and doing normal chicken things finally. I’m guessing she’ll start to lay in late winter. We do supplement light on a timer in fall/winter to give them approx 14 hours light a day when combined with daylight. We only supplement light in the morning.
Good luck!

 

[cavemanrich]

So what could be the deal? Do some chickens go sterile after an illness? Does she have some rare laying issue I don’t know about?

Reading all the things that happened to her,,, this is what I think/conclude.
She stopped when the BAD events started. Then the MOLT,, and then the normal slowdown when daylight starts to get shorter. My chickens went on strike at about the end of September. Forgot how eggs look. except in the store coolers.
I don't think she went sterile, and don't know of other non laying issues that I could point to. I assume that when days start to get noticeably longer about beginning of March, the laying will resume.
Other breeds of chickens, (not sure what you have), are more prolific layers even thru times when other chickens take time off.
Some peeps here on other thread post that the only eggs they are getting now,, (autumn,winter) are from their Leghorns, and Sexlinks.
The rest of their flock is on strike. BTW,, the above mentioned breeds I refer to as EGG MACHINES
WISHING YOU BEST,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, and

 

[aart]

I know for certain she’s not laying in a secret nest somewhere- our yard isn’t that big.

But they are very sneaky.
I'd suggest confining them to coop and run 24/7 for a week or so just in case,
but that pale comb shows she's not likely to be in lay.

Oh, and Welcome to BYC! @MamaVP
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