Free loader year old hen

[fatsGREENgarden]

fatsGREENgarden said:
We have 5 hens between 17 months-2 years old. 4 mixes and one Asian Black. We normally get 2-3 eggs daily. In the spring sometimes we would get 4 eggs daily, but never 5.
We’ve come to the conclusion that our Goldie (now known as The Golden Child) just doesn’t pull her weight. We think she thinks she is a rooster and doesn’t need to lay as she’s too busy herding the others. We actually call her the bouncer. She is the smallest flock member and petite, but runs the show and keeps everyone in line. She keeps the younger 2 away while the other 2 eat first. She is always the last in the coop because she walks around to make sure every else is in. She’s the ultimate mother hen.

Once in awhile, we get a smaller odd egg and assume it’s hers. But we just don’t know for sure, we never see her in the coop/hen box.

Has anyone else ever had a non laying hen/ young freeloader?

*1st photo is Goldie’s arrival to us in May of 2020. Other photos are current.

 

[cherrynberry]

We have 5 hens between 17 months-2 years old. 4 mixes and one Asian Black. We normally get 2-3 eggs daily. In the spring sometimes we would get 4 eggs daily, but never 5.
We’ve come to the conclusion that our Goldie (now known as The Golden Child) just doesn’t pull her weight. We think she thinks she is a rooster and doesn’t need to lay as she’s too busy herding the others. We actually call her the bouncer. She is the smallest flock member and petite, but runs the show and keeps everyone in line. She keeps the younger 2 away while the other 2 eat first. She is always the last in the coop because she walks around to make sure every else is in. She’s the ultimate mother hen.

Once in awhile, we get a smaller odd egg and assume it’s hers. But we just don’t know for sure, we never see her in the coop/hen box.

Has anyone else ever had a non laying hen/ young freeloader?

*1st photo is Goldie’s arrival to us in May of 2020. Other photos are current.

Doesnt sound like an accurate way of telling if she is laying. She is a hen. I would check her pelvis bones.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Goldie's a girl. She might just be a dud. I have a 1.5 year old hen that's laid maybe 2 or 3 eggs, that's it.

 

[fatsGREENgarden]

Goldie's a girl. She might just be a dud. I have a 1.5 year old hen that's laid maybe 2 or 3 eggs, that's it.

Oh. So it is possible she just does not lay eggs at all. We always knew she was a girl, we never questioned that. We thought we were going crazy to say “I have a young hen, but she doesn’t lay eggs.”

I’ve seen others on here say their hens act like roosters, and I wondered if that meant they also don’t lay. She doesn’t crow, but she protects the flock. She’s the only chicken that has ever pecked us. And she doesn’t lay eggs. Official long term freeloader for sure.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Oh. So it is possible she just does not lay eggs at all. We always knew she was a girl, we never questioned that. We thought we were going crazy to say “I have a young hen, but she doesn’t lay eggs.”

I’ve seen others on here say their hens act like roosters, and I wondered if that meant they also don’t lay. She doesn’t crow, but she protects the flock. She’s the only chicken that has ever pecked us. And she doesn’t lay eggs. Official long term freeloader for sure.

If there's damage or developmental issue with an ovary(ies?) that could cause enough hormonal disruption or imbalance to cause no eggs and/or more male-type behavior.

 

[InterestingChickens]

If there's damage or developmental issue with an ovary(ies?) that could cause enough hormonal disruption or imbalance to cause no eggs and/or more male-type behavior.

Yes, if one hen's ovaries get damaged the other ones becomes functional, which sends hormones into the body changing the behaviour and there four effecting egg laying. Though a hen that has 'turned' into a cockerel will never be able to fertilise eggs as they will remain without the genitals, but pick up 'male - sized' spurs (if they didn't already have them). Female chickens have two ovaries though only one is in use from when it's born, with the other one remaining undeveloped unless needed.