EE not laying

[Urbana Gardener]

Matilda is 2 years old. She was one of 3 hens we have had for 2 years. In early May Gertrude was taken by a fox and killed. Memorial Day weekend Emily just stopped eating on a Saturday and died Sunday night. She looked totally healthy, was eating and running around the yard with no issues. There had been no eggs but since they had all been out free ranging, we figured they were out on the property somewhere, but her sudden death made us think maybe we missed an egg bound hen.
We got 3 new chicks in early June and 2 weeks ago, during the middle of the day, we found one with puncture wounds and scratches and very dead. The other 2 chicks were hiding in the corner of the yard. Its a fenced yard with 5 foot fencing on 3 sides and 4 foot fencing on one side. The big hen (Matilda) was out in the yard. We live on 2.5 acres, that has woods on 3 sides.
Now Matilda isn't laying. She hasn't since Emily was sick. She goes out during the day, by herself and seems fine, although a bit scared, but she was always the scared hen any ways. Could she just be freaked out and stressed from the 2 dead buddies and new chicks and then a dead chick?
We checked her vent and she was clean. Her tummy is soft and she seems fine in every other way.
How long do I wait and what should we do? Worried!!!

 

[Hippie Chicks Mom]

Sounds as it is stress related. The deaths of her flock mates is very disturbing to her and you did the right thing by getting new chicks to eventually keep her company. Chickens are very social and need flock mates. Animal attacks will stress a chicken into not laying. For how long???? I can't answer that. At 2-3 years old, chicken decrease egg laying anyway. May be a combo. Good luck and keep them safe!!! It's so tragic to loose our chickens to predators.

 

[Urbana Gardener]

Thanks. We are so saddened by their passing. Today we found that something had tried to get into the coop. We have plastic sheeting on one side of their coop/run to keep it dry. The plastic is torn and a 6" chunk ripped out. In broad daylight. Our office is 50' from the coop. Not sure what is so bold. When Matilda is kept in she gets so unhappy. It's so frustrating.

 

[poseygrace]

Sorry to hear about your losses. I second the idea that it's stress.