Danish Leghorn... stopped laying

[slideinsideways]

I've searched the posts and can't quite find a scenario like this....

I have a Danish Leghorn (see picture) that's about 1 and a half years old. She's part of a small flock of four in my backyard. Very large run and regular access to forage freely in my yard. Plenty of sun and daylight this time of year. She's never been the best layer, but has completely STOPPED laying in the last month. I'm worried. She gets in the hen box most days and "buh-gawks" like she's laying an egg.... spends a seemingly average amount of time in there.... then hops out and behaves like normal... eating and drinking fine.... dust bathing... roosting at night.... comb and feathers look great.... vent is pink and dry and soft to palpation.... not molting... no difference in her poop.... But NO EGG!!!

I've recently tried a recommendation from the farm store to switch her food to crushed dry cat food for a couple days and keep them in the run so they don't forage, but rather eat the higher protein cat food. And I tried a couple days worth of electrolyte replacement in her water. Her sisters are all about the same age and lay VERY regularly, so I don't think it's anything I'm specifically doing or not doing.

I'm concerned not because I want her to produce eggs, but because I want her to be well. Does anyone have experience with this sort of thing? Should I just be happy that she seems healthy and not worry that maybe she's not going to lay eggs?

 

[KnowyourFarmer]

I'm going to reply and follow this thread because I'm having a similar situation and it's making me crazy. I have three hens, all of whom were laying. I'm down to one laying, one that I'm pretty sure is molting and one that I have no idea what is going on with. None of them look sick, they are eating, drinking, running around. They are in my yard during the day (about 3/4 of an acre) and their coop at night. They have plenty of layer feed available, I've even offered oyster, which I didn't really think was necessary. No lethargic hens or weird colors, I've checked manure and it looks the same as it always did. They are just about 2 years old. I've never had problems with them laying before the last two months or so. I will say that before the complete stop in egg production, I got two - three soft or no shell eggs (just yolk on the poop board). I've read several books, talked to other chicken owners nearby and I have no idea what to do. I too am really just concerned about health, if I don't get eggs, fine, I just want the girls to be happy and healthy. Any advice would be appreciated as this is all new to me.

 

[Cotton42]

I had this happen to one of my Easter Egger hens and it turned out that she had a partial crop impaction. It finally turned into a complete impaction that resolved itself with the help of crop massage and scrambled eggs soaked in olive oil, but even after she got over that she didn't lay an egg for over a month. She would go in the nesting box and try but nothing would happen. I was convinced she was an internal layer until the day she finally laid again. I hope you figure out what's wrong with your girl, it can be so frustrating not knowing.