Australorp hen not laying consistently

[Belbris]

Our 2 australorp hens are just over 1 year old. On and off for the last few months one of our hens lays for a few weeks and then stops for a few weeks and so the cycle continues. She looks healthy but when she stops laying she also stops squatting when we go to pat her.

Poo looks normal

No food changes - been on layer pellets since they started laying.

Other hen laying consistently and they have the same feed, water, environment.

We’re in Australia so nearing end of summer so plenty of warmth and daylight hours.

Any thoughts?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Sounds fairly normal to me for a dual purpose breed.

 

[aart]

just over 1 year old

Like 14-18 months old?
She maybe getting ready to molt, days are increasingly shorter in your part of the world right now.
I've had a few birds that lay like that, no matter what time of year.
She isn't acting broody is she?

 

[Belbris]

Like 14-18 months old?
She maybe getting ready to molt, days are increasingly shorter in your part of the world right now.
I've had a few birds that lay like that, no matter what time of year.
She isn't acting broody is she?

Yes 14 months old. The one not laying is losing quite a few feathers. She doesn’t seem broody.

 

[Rachel2019]

Our 2 australorp hens are just over 1 year old. On and off for the last few months one of our hens lays for a few weeks and then stops for a few weeks and so the cycle continues. She looks healthy but when she stops laying she also stops squatting when we go to pat her.

Poo looks normal

No food changes - been on layer pellets since they started laying.

Other hen laying consistently and they have the same feed, water, environment.

We’re in Australia so nearing end of summer so plenty of warmth and daylight hours.

Any thoughts?

I'm in Australia to my pops chickens have layed for while then not than layed again for a while my whole life I don't know what breed they are but its probably normal depending on there age they might lay more or less they also might be moulting the local vet said that chickens have started moulting earlier this year but if there poop and that is all fine I wouldn't worry