BO stopped laying!

[ehoneybee]

She is a year old and has been laying at least every other day since we got her in Sept. and before we got her. All last week she laid one egg! The other hen (EE) is laying every day. Any thoughts?

 

[rjohns39]

She could be slowing down for the winter. Some do that.

 

[aart]

If closer to 18 months old than 12 months...she may be getting ready to molt.

 

[staceyj]

I have two buffs molting right now. Gently lift up her feathers along her sides and see if there's a bunch of "porcupine quills" sprouting.

 

[ehoneybee]

She could be slowing down for the winter. Some do that.

I have two buffs molting right now. Gently lift up her feathers along her sides and see if there's a bunch of "porcupine quills" sprouting.

I will! I think she may he molting as her feathers are looking pretty bad lately. Does this last until spring?

 

[staceyj]

I will! I think she may he molting as her feathers are looking pretty bad lately. Does this last until spring?

This is our first time so I can't say from experience. I've read 3-4 weeks for a mini molt and 3-4 months for a train wreck molt

 

[aart]

I will! I think she may he molting as her feathers are looking pretty bad lately. Does this last until spring?

How long a molt lasts can vary greatly.
Some birds molt soft and slow, others molt hard and fast.
Always good to up their protein during a molt, especially animal protein,
helps those new feathers grow out maybe faster and with less stress to their systems.

How soon they will start laying again after the molt is completed will also vary,
depending on individual birds and/or the amount of daylight length they get.

 

[ehoneybee]

She is totally molting! There are feathers everywhere! Why do they molt when it's 30 degree weather?!

What should I be giving her protein wise?

 

[gimmie birdies]

I had a BO who I thought was not laying eggs, then I found out she was hoarding them and laying them under my canoe. She wanted to be a mom, and we had no roosters at the time.

 

[ehoneybee]

I had a BO who I thought was not laying eggs, then I found out she was hoarding them and laying them under my canoe. She wanted to be a mom, and we had no roosters at the time.

Aw, so sweet!