Egg laying help

[Suzyqschickens]

A '1 year old' chicken may be 18 months old...and stopped laying both because of the stress of moving and because she needs to molt.

It might still be hot, but the days are now very near to half and half, so only 12 hours of daylight.

The 8-9mo's may have slowed laying due to the 'stranger' in their midst, which causes stress and stress can impede egg production. they may also slow, stop, and even molt during their first fall/winter season.

Not all birds molt 'hard', where there are feathers everywhere and they look like drowned rats...it can be very slow and subtle and you won't know unless you look closely for new pin feathers coming in.

Might be good to check the new bird, and all your birds, for bugs(and pin feathers):
Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Wow thank you for all the great info!! I will do that tonight