EE not laid at all in 2 months

[kgdubois]

my EE hens are masters of nest disguise, so if they free range anywhere at all, I wouldn't rule out a hidden nest! I have three EE hens left (my other three were killed by fox/racoon/skunk attacks) and two of them currently have "unplanned" babies

one of these hens was missing for the ENTIRE 22 DAYS it took her to hatch the eggs out. I was convinced she had been caught by the fox, but on evening 22, up she strolls with three chicks in tow

we couldn't believe it! we ranch in west TX, and we have pretty much every kind of predator you can imagine (including bear), so for her to successfully lay a clutch and then hatch it is just awesome...

my other hen hatched out a surprise clutch of six chicks -- also hidden away, however I found her on day 10 and was able to transfer her to my dog crate "broody palace"

Good luck finding those eggs (or figuring out what is happening to them)!

 

[Imp]

My worse egg layer was an ee. She would lay almost daily for a couple weeks, then nothing for months. Went on like that for a few years.

Good luck, hope she starts up again soon,

Imp

 

[Lothiriel]

Both of my EEs are doing the same thing right now. I did find that they had 2 hidden nests, and after that I didn't let them out to free range until I had eggs. They got really good at that routine, so I let them go out. For about 3-4 days after, I got eggs, and now nothing. I have looked all over in every possible place and have found nothing. I surely hope they shape up and get their egg act together...

 

[Mama Hen Chris]

Quote:
Sounds like my EE also. It is hit or miss with Josephine. She is on her dry spell now.

 

[Imp]

Quote:
Sounds like my EE also. It is hit or miss with Josephine. She is on her dry spell now.

Darn dry spells

I should add that I have 2 ee pullets now. Both are laying well.

Imp

 

[urbanfarmqueen]

My two Ameraucanas took 4 months after the first year to start laying after their molt. My girls are 3 years now and lay 1 a day unless molting/recently molted. I have been successful at reducing the post-molt period with a coop light, golf balls for encouragement and upping their treats for moral. I went from 4 months down to 1-2 months of no eggs during and after their molt. I had the hidden nest issue once as well. I found that by eliminating the hidden nest environment (making it less desirable to nest anywhere but the nesting boxes) has cured this issue. A hidden nest usually means, to me, that either the hen house is not adequate or something appears safer/better for the hen to nest in. Try improving the house by adding a box or moving it to a safer, quieter spot, and or removing the bushes or wood pile (my girl was using) they found more desirable.
If its not the hidden nest issue I recommend to up the treats, try adding a golf or ping pong ball to each box & a coop light. Our coop light was added to come on & go off 1 hour before sunrise and 1 hour after sunset. We think it helped so we have contused to use it. Use a light that is most like natural sunlight. I found that increasing the TLC with treats and adding the balls helped. It takes a lot of of them to molt so they need a little more during and after for nutrition.

 

[Katydid2011]

I have a couple of EEs that have stopped laying as well, both under 1-year old and not visibly molting. Prior to going on strike they were reliably laying one egg a day, 6-7 days a week. I don't begrudge them this rest period but I do miss their eggs!

 

[cbohn80]

well i live in a very small not very spread out development. the only way she has a hidden nest at this point is if she's jumping a 6 ft fence which she easily could have done if i didnt start clipping her wings. there are some days i dont allow them to free range and no eggs those days either, guess its just an EE thing after all. hopefully she'll start laying soon.