Chicken not Laying for about 3 weeks?

[a1n1g1u1s]

I have had birds stop laying for awhile for no apparent reason then just as suddenly start laying regularly again.

That’s good to know, because none of these answers are applying.(thanks for everyone replying)

Broody is when a hen collects eggs over a few days to sit on for them to hatch.
A broody will stop laying once she has collected enough eggs (only she can decided how many is enough.)
A broody is most likely to not ever get off of the nest/eggs.
She may get off once a day to eat and use the bathroom really quick then return to sitting on the eggs.

curious, if I collect the eggs every morning, and there are no eggs to sit on available, will the chicken eventually stop being broody, or will she stay that way indefinitely or until she’s broken of it?

 

[cmom]

curious, if I collect the eggs every morning, and there are no eggs to sit on available, will the chicken eventually stop being broody, or will she stay that way indefinitely or until she’s broken of it?

Not usually. If I move the broody to another coop and pen, that often times helps. Also I have put them in a big wire cage for a few days and sometimes it works and sometimes has to be repeated for a few more days.

 

[Farm boy 14]

curious, if I collect the eggs every morning, and there are no eggs to sit on available, will the chicken eventually stop being broody, or will she stay that way indefinitely or until she’s broken of it?

my cross breed hen went broody in march and I just got her to stop a week ago. some chickens are super stubborn. mine had gone broody twice. once in January and once in march(and we live in Michigan so it is super cold). yours might take awhile to stop or will stop soon. good luck.

 

[WildSuburbian]

My old ladies lay at different times of the year. The Auracanas lay like crazy right now, the Australorps don't, but will lay eggs into the winter. Also, I have a Buff Orpington who is so greedy she rarely lays eggs. Could just be the hen!

 

[Kiki]

That’s good to know, because none of these answers are applying.(thanks for everyone replying)

curious, if I collect the eggs every morning, and there are no eggs to sit on available, will the chicken eventually stop being broody, or will she stay that way indefinitely or until she’s broken of it?

Probably not.
You will have to continue to remove her.
Broody wire cage/jail her for a few days.
Wire cage raised up off the ground with no bedding.

 

[cmom]

My old ladies lay at different times of the year. The Auracanas lay like crazy right now, the Australorps don't, but will lay eggs into the winter. Also, I have a Buff Orpington who is so greedy she rarely lays eggs. Could just be the hen!

My Buff Orpington's were poor layers.

 

[aart]

Broody is when a hen collects eggs over a few days to sit on for them to hatch.
A broody will stop laying once she has collected enough eggs (only she can decided how many is enough.)
A broody is most likely to not ever get off of the nest/eggs.
She may get off once a day to eat and use the bathroom really quick then return to sitting on the eggs.

They can also be broody with no eggs in the nest at all.

If you suspect she is laying somewhere else, lock her up for a week.
First, Butt Check!
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

 

[chickenmommainchesapeake]

So, today, she's still eating and drinking like a horse, but she seems to be off balance and not wanting to walk a lot. She even fell over on her side once, she got back up and seems to not want to sit, but stand? Her poos are still loose, but a bit firmer...they almost have undigested food in the poops. She gets plain yogurt everyday and her regular chicken food and electrolytes and vitamins in her water. It's odd, but her tail is not drooping but, straight in the air...she does feel a bit thin too.

 

[aart]

Electrolytes should not be given continuously.
Not sure daily yogurt is beneficial either.
Put her back on regular chicken ration and plain water.
Isolate her to check crop function, physical exam first.

I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor her intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and her poops. Feel her abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[chickenmommainchesapeake]

Electrolytes should not be given continuously.
Not sure daily yogurt is beneficial either.
Put her back on regular chicken ration and plain water.
Isolate her to check crop function, physical exam first.

I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor her intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and her poops. Feel her abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

So, today, she's still eating and drinking like a horse, but she seems to be off balance and not wanting to walk a lot. She even fell over on her side once, she got back up and seems to not want to sit, but stand? Her poos are still loose, but a bit firmer...they almost have undigested food in the poops. She gets plain yogurt everyday and her regular chicken food and electrolytes and vitamins in her water. It's odd, but her tail is not drooping but, straight in the air...she does feel a bit thin too.

Electrolytes should not be given continuously.
Not sure daily yogurt is beneficial either.
Put her back on regular chicken ration and plain water.
Isolate her to check crop function, physical exam first.

I'd isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so you can closely monitor her intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and her poops. Feel her abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling.


Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

She is isolated, she is the only chicken we have right now. I put her in the garage to monitor her closer. She's eating well and drinking. Her crop seems small and hardish, and her abdomen is very skinny...she feels like a carcass. I see undigested food in her poops...she is wobbly on her feet. Her attitude seems good..she's making her "sounds" to me. Her poos seemed firmer today and almost normal...still hasn't laid an egg in about 4 weeks. Thanks..