Help!

[mpmb1227]

I have a red sex link who, some matter of months ago, stopped laying for no apparent reason. At first, I thought she was egg bound as she would go into her nest and make the noise of an impending egg. But even that stopped a long time ago. Now, my other mature hens are well into their molting phase except her, which is unusual for the time of year and the cold weather we've had here in the Pacific Northwest. She seems healthy otherwise but why would a healthy hen stop laying and not molt?

 

[Caleb999]

What kind of feed is she on? When she stopped laying, was there any environment changes? (new coop, new members of the flock...) It is strange that she is not molting with the others, but all chickens can molt at different times. They can be very unpredictable.
Good luck

 

[mpmb1227]

Rogue valley organic/non gmo feed. And no, she was acting ill for a day or two and then perked right back up, laid maybe two more eggs than nothing. Not a single egg for nearing 5 months.

 

[Happy Chooks]

Could she be losing feathers and you just aren't seeing it like on the other birds? Molting can be very drastic or very subtle, and everywhere in between.

How old is she? Have you checked her for lice/mites? Have you wormed her? Is she losing weight? When you feel her keel bone (chest bone), is it sharp or does she have meat on her?

There are many reasons why hens stop laying: daylight, lack of water, worms, lice/mites, illness, malnutrition, etc.

 

[mpmb1227]

I honestly don't think that's the case. I've kept close watch over her for the last several months and have seen no signs of mites/parasites/disease/stress. They are happy healthy with plenty of acreage to roam almost daily. I just don't like seeing the poor hen looking so haggard from the years damage to her feathers. Good news is, I do see the white tips of the casings of new pin feathers growing in on her neck, so I guess she was just a late molter this year. It just seemed unusual, that in most cases hens decide to lay eggs further in to the year and put off molting to nov/dec, but she hasn't been laying period. That's another mystery, but we shall see come spring.