6 mo old hens poor layers or broody?

[mlh328]

Hi guys! I have a 6 month old barred rock that layed 2 eggs in late July then nothing until a fairy egg 8/20. Nothing since. Every morning she stands in front of her preferred nest box and sings for a few minutes. Then she climbed in and sits on the fake egg. She rolls it around and gets comfy on it then just sits with her tail held really high, this goes on for 45ish minutes. She's got water, layer feed and oyster shell available 24/7. She is not free range, no eggs in the run. I don't believe I have any egg eaters. I also have a 6 month old easter egger that laid her first couple eggs mid July and nothing since but she isn't interested in the nest ot the fake eggs at all. Nobody is acting egg bound. Does the barred rock sound normal or broody? And do you think there's any hope for my Easter egger to start laying again? Thanks in advance!

 

[featheredplanets]

You’d know if she was broody. She’d be sat on the nest 24/7, flat as a pancake and squealing when you go near her. It can sometimes take a bit of time for pullets to get into a steady laying pattern, especially if there have been any environmental or predator stresses. I wouldn’t worry and just be patient. Do keep an eye on her health though, have you ever seen her straining to lay in the nest?

 

[mlh328]

Thanks for the reassurance @featheredplanets. No straining going on. And no predator or environmental stress that I can tell. They're all pretty well spoiled. I've got a 4 month old that gives me an egg daily, maybe the big girl is just practicing!

 

[rosemarythyme]

She might be a dud, but too early to tell. I have a 2 yr old hen that's laid about 10 eggs in her life, but still regularly goes and sits in the nest box as if laying. So hormones are working, just nothing's being produced.