Can a hen refuse to lay?

[silkiechicken]

I really don't think a hen can choose per se if it wants to lay or not. I think it is all hormonal. Kind of like humans, humans can't control it, but under stress, differing hormones, starvation, things can change that are equivalent to what can change for a hen to stop laying eggs. Their laying eggs is basically one ovulation cycle, theirs just takes a day or so rather than a month or so.

 

[joebwe25]

My chicken won't lay in the nest box if it a tiny bit dirty.
If it is she will either quit, or lay it on the ground.