Can Emotional Trama Stop Egglaying?

[megan13]

I have an Isa Brown hen, Layla, who has stopped laying. She is only 3 years old. She hasn't layed since her best friend got killed by a predator (layla was not injured) when she was 1 year old. Before that she layed everyday perfectly. After her friend was killed she was our only hen for a while. We thought she was lonely so we got some more and still nothing. Could the emotional trama of seeing her BFF get eaten stop her from laying forever? Or do some chickens only lay for a few months? Has anyone had anything like this?

 

[Mtn Laurel]

Emotional trauma can make them stop laying for a while but they normally resume after a period of adjustment. They hate change and that will stop them for a while, too. But I've not heard of it stopping them forever.

Most hens do their best laying in their first two years but continue laying for years afterwards, just at a lesser rate. Isa Brown is a sex-link, right? I've read that sometimes sex-links that are bred for a high production of eggs have a shortened laying span and even life span. They are bright candles that burn out fast. That has proved true for me as I began with 4 sex links over 3 years ago. Of those 4, only 1 is still alive. The first three died from what looked to be reproductive problems, which sex-links are prone to getting.

The one that's still around was never a great layer and hasn't laid an egg in a year. That's probably the only reason she's still kicking.

 

[megan13]

Yeah I've never heard of trama stopping egg laying forever either. I don't know maybe most people don't keep them around if they don't lay... But I love my little Layla wether she lays or not.