can a hen refuse to lay?

[toetoe]

I have 4 laying hens, 2 brooding mommas, 12 chicks, 3 roosters, 2 pellets and 2 cockerels...and 1 non laying hen.

My problem is just the one hen.

This is Nugget, she is 11 months old. She has been with us for 3 months and I have gotten an egg from her 3 days after she arrived up to 3 weeks ago.

I free range my flock and they do lay outside the hen house. I have found all the others outside nests and it is not to hard, I just sit with my tea in my yard and see were they go.

My husband and I have taken spit shifts for 3 days to watch Nugget to see were she is laying her eggs. She spends a lot of the time under the trees or under the bushes, in the shade or in the dark. But no eggs were she goes. In three days we have not lost sight of her once.

She also spends time in front of the 2 brooding pens watching the chicks and the mother hens pacing back and forth in front of the pens.

She seems to be just fine, not sick or anything. She is just not laying eggs.

Is it possible for a hen to not lay eggs out of want for the chicks?
Is it possible for a hen to refuse to lay?
Is it possible for a hen to just quite laying?

I just can't figure it out.

 

[catfish/okie]

Maybe shes just taking some time off. She sure is a pretty hen. Is she part game?

 

[toetoe]

I know that she is a mutt, I was told part game and part something breeze.
And yes she is one of the prettiness birds in my flock. She also is one of the smartest girls.

 

[toetoe]

Also..we have noticed that the red skin around her eyes and head has been turning pink, and then 1 hour later it goes back to red.

 

[catfish/okie]

Games make some of the best moms, If you dont mind more chickens maybee put her in a pen with 1 of your roos and a nest box. Maybe she is dreaming of being a mom. If you happened to try this and she starts to lay again dont collect the eggs then she will set. I may be all wrong. Im no expert just wanted to help. Maybe post this again in the morning and some good chicken people will be online.

 

[toetoe]

Thank you for that bit of info. I don't want more chicks just yet. The season is getting cold and chicks don't do well in the cold.
I am just trying to find out if it is possible for a hen to refuse to lay for some reason.