Anyone have a chicken that just doesn't lay?

[melodie_a]

We have two red-sex links that are from the same hatch, one has been laying for the past 4 months the other has not layed a thing. I am begining to think she will never lay an egg. She has been squatting for 3 months but no eggs, and she isn't hiding them either they only free-range when I am with them and there are no hiding places in the coop or run. She gets into the laying box sometimes and digs around like she might want to lay... but nuthin.

 

[cecilia1959]

I have one hen that has never layed an egg. I was also wondering if anyone had a hen like mine. He name is baby Lisa. She is a mutt.

 

[kla37]

Our big fluffy gorgeous cochins hatched in May haven't started laying yet, and I don't really care if they do. They are the sweetest most beautiful fluffy butts and I got them for the cuteness factor, the others for reliable laying, so I'm not disappointed. Their job is to be pretty, and they do it very well!

 

[BWchicken]

Quote:
I've been wondering the same thing for almost a year now.

I have a Bantam BR that started laying last winter. She laid an egg a day all through winter, then stopped around March. No molting, not broody, just stopped laying and hasn't laid since. I even took her to the avian vet, had x-rays, bloodwork and he couldn't find a reason for her not laying. She's now 1 1/2 years old but hasn't laid for 10 months. She's healthy and active. She had her first big molt last month so I'm hoping maybe she will be 'reset' to start laying again this spring. But even if she never lays again, her home will be here with us all her days. I love all my chickens like that.

 

[Fred's Hens]

Sure, lots of folks find they have a hen or two that doesn't lay. They usually find them between the ice cube trays and frozen bag of peas.

Sorry, but it was right there.

 

[jettgirl24]

Glad to hear other people have similar girls... She's a hatchery BR so I had hoped she'd be a good little layer... She has always been my "slow" chicken though so I guess I'm not super surprised. I probably shouldn't have named her "Eggie", I probably jinxed it

 

[TrystInn]

I have a cochin pullet that hatched in February and has only recently begun laying eggs, MONTHS after her hatch siblings did. But she'd laying regularly now.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Just stating the obvious here, but have you searched everywhere for eggs and I mean EVERYWHERE? It's normal for pullets and hens to hide their eggs in dark corners, under bushes or even under a deck. I've heard time and time again folks finding treasure troves of eggs but by the time they find them, well all I can say is whatever you do--don't drop them!

 

[HEChicken]

That's a pity - my BR is one of my most solid, reliable layers. Ummm...are you absolutely sure she is not laying? I have a black sexlink that had me very unimpressed when I consider they are supposed to be bred for laying. I didn't think she'd laid an egg for months and she's only 10 months old now! But few days ago she laid an egg and I realized I'd been crediting someone else with her eggs all along. My point is, are you sure she's not laying regularly and you're just attributing her eggs to someone else?

 

[jettgirl24]

Just stating the obvious here, but have you searched everywhere for eggs and I mean EVERYWHERE? It's normal for pullets and hens to hide their eggs in dark corners, under bushes or even under a deck. I've heard time and time again folks finding treasure troves of eggs but by the time they find them, well all I can say is whatever you do--don't drop them! http://www.pic4ever.com/images/loudlaff.gif

There's no place to hide the eggs in the run and I've stripped the coop twice now with no secret stash

That's a pity - my BR is one of my most solid, reliable layers. Ummm...are you absolutely sure she is not laying? I have a black sexlink that had me very unimpressed when I consider they are supposed to be bred for laying. I didn't think she'd laid an egg for months and she's only 10 months old now! But few days ago she laid an egg and I realized I'd been crediting someone else with her eggs all along. My point is, are you sure she's not laying regularly and you're just attributing her eggs to someone else?

Sadly I'm sure... I've never gotten more than two eggs a day from the three girls and one is definitely my BO's cuz I've seen her lay them and they are significantly lighter than the BR's. My other BR "Rocky" just went into molt about a month ago and presto! Not a BR egg since

They've got lights in the coop so I don't think it's winter break... The BO is laying every day and my Marans babies just started laying too. Unfortunately I think she may be a lost cause in the egg department. Luckily she is a true champion when it comes to the snuggles and hilarious antics