Adult Buff Orpington hen not laying

[Trish1974]

I have a 16 month old Buff Orpington hen that seems to have stopped laying. She isn't even trying to lay (not visiting the nest box), so I know she isn't egg bound or having any internal problems. It started about 2 weeks ago she went 2 days without laying, then 3 days without laying, now I believe I'm on day 4 of her not laying. She isn't molting, does not seem distressed in any way, is eating and drinking normally, and as fat as an orpington can be. Nor has she been laying elsewhere. Their diet has not changed and all her other flock mates are laying fine. Should I be concerned since afterall she should be in her egg laying prime, or just let it go since she is acting normal? If it matters, she almost always laid body checked eggs when she was laying (#3 in this article: https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/common-egg-quality-problems.65923/ ) Thanks

 

[klhgolden]

Maybe she's going broody? I had a couple Buff Orpingtons who stopped laying before they went broody. As long as she's eating/drinking and seems healthy I wouldn't be too concerned. Maybe she's just taking a break.

 

[MrPepers]

My buff orpington goes through fazes where she lays an egg almost every day, goes broody, or just stops laying for about a week.

 

[Cindy in PA]

16 month would be prime time to start molt. Chickens will molt 1 year to 14 months or so after they start laying. A less productive layer may molt a year after & a better layer could be 18 months old.

 

[Trish1974]

Thanks everyone! I just wanted to make sure nothing serious could be wrong with her. I have chickens for pets so really don't care if she lays or not.