chicken stopped laying

[mountainchick]

I'm a somewhat new chicken owner. My hen, Gertrude, has been laying for about 2 months. Last week she stopped laying! I live in the mountains in Utah and wondered if the temp has anything to do with it? The thing is, the temp really didn't drop a lot until a few days ago?? Is this normal? Could it be stress??

 

[yellowdragon]

It may be her molting season. Chicken molt in the fall or sometimes spring. If she has no sign of illness Then I would bet thats it. My chickens just started to lay again ( it lasts about 2 weeks), I hope this helps.


Oh I forgot. It is the molt if you see alot of feathers on the ground.

 

[mountainchick]

Thank you!!! That helps A lot!! Yes I have seen a lot of feathers in the coop and she seems just fine! I have eleven chickens total. 10 hens and oops, a rooster! She and the rooster are the oldest. The others are younger, 4 should start laying soon and 5 in a few months. But molting would explain what is going on!

 

[yellowdragon]

No problem. Same thing happen to me about 4 or 5 years ago when I started. need anything just PM me. or write a topic, there are alot of helpful people here.

 

[Shannonwbl]

I have a young (March hatch) Amerucauna that I think just stopped laying two weeks ago. I say I "think" because they free range during the day and I guess it is possible that she may be laying somewhere else, but I have never caught her and she is running around with the others (not broody).

I wondered about molting, but I have only seen 6 or 7 feathers in the coop - granted they are all hers but I expected more laying around and I also thought she might look a bit scraggly. She seems to be healthy (full feathers and active) - could she be molting? I sure miss those pretty blue eggs - how long will it last?