barren hen

[Amaryllis]

One of my 14 month old hens isn't laying. She laid a few pigeon sized eggs about 6 months ago but nothing since. The feathers around her vent are messy looking and she seems to be prefer being alone, doesn't hang with the other 3 hens. Could she be barren? Any ideas out there?

 

[ADozenGirlz]

Quote:
What kind of bird is she? Could she be molting? Did you supplement the light in the winter? If she started to lay just before winter and the day light decreased maybe that affected her laying cycle? Just throwing up some ideas here. Does her vent look dry or moist? Does she hang out alone in a nest box? She could be broody.

 

[tammyd57]

When she's 'not hanging with the other hens', is she perhaps hanging inside the coop alone, where the eggs are? Maybe she's eating them.