Hen hasn’t laid since last fall

[shroompy]

Just one of my BCM girls has not laid a “real” egg since last fall. My other girls are laying consistently since beginning of April. The girl in question laid a fairy egg two weeks ago, but that’s it. She is acting normally and they all get the same nutrition. I have free choice oyster shell. She laid consistently at the end of last summer.
What do I need to check for?

 

[Chicken_Obsesser]

@Wyorp Rock might be able to help.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Just one of my BCM girls has not laid a “real” egg since last fall. My other girls are laying consistently since beginning of April. The girl in question laid a fairy egg two weeks ago, but that’s it. She is acting normally and they all get the same nutrition. I have free choice oyster shell. She laid consistently at the end of last summer.
What do I need to check for?

I'm not sure what you can do, but wait and see if she resumes laying eggs.

If she's acting normal, eating/drinking, active, it doesn't sound like she's sick. Some hens slow down in production as they age, this may be the case with her.

 

[BurbCoop]

Is she by chance the head hen in the flock?

 

[BigBlueHen53]

And how old is this hen? And what are you feeding, including treats?

 

[cassie]

Chicken and dumplings?

 

[firechicken76]

Is she by chance the head hen in the flock?

Could this cause a hen to stop or significantly slow down laying?

 

[BurbCoop]

Could this cause a hen to stop or significantly slow down laying?

I believe so in certain cases, and based on my own experience. Our head hen stopped laying eggs early on and briefly took on a rooster-like role, even crowing for a little while. Much later, she started laying again for about a month or so, then stopped for good.

 

[shroompy]

Is she by chance the head hen in the flock?

She is not! I also have a roo. Everyone gets fed the same layer pellets + free range. Her sister is a prolific layer, and since I posted this the girl in question has laid two more fairy eggs and nothing else. I will say when she does lay, there are a lot of red-brown speckles on the eggs, and the albumin is stronger than normal. They are both just over a year old

 

[BurbCoop]

The red and brown speckles could be just normal pigment, or possibly calcium deposits. Do you by chance have a pic of one of her eggs showing the spots?

I have had a few new layers over the years that took some time to get up and running fully. They also laid a fairy egg or two.

From there, could be anything from a molt, nutritional imbalance, stress, to more serious reproductive/shell gland issues.

If she is acting normal, not showing signs of distress, eating and drinking fine, I would give her some more time. Watch for any signs of stress, possibly on the roost at night, or if she is low in the pecking order.