Hen Hasn't Laid Eggs in a Week!

[citychickinthecountry]

My Black Tailed White Japanese Bantam hasn't laid an egg in 5 or 6 days (she's been laying eggs for about a month now). She had been laying an egg every other day. She hasn't laid an egg since the day before another one of my hens started laying her first egg.

Should I be worried? She's not showing any signs of bad health (acting normally, eating just fine, moving normally, doesn't seem bound up (passing feces)).

 

[popcornpuppy]

I would not worry. There are a huge number of factors that could be the reason why she stopped laying.
#1 shorter day light hours. Hens need at least 14 hours of daylight to lay regularly

#2 cold weather. Alot of breeds don't like or lay well in the cold.

#3 molting. Many hens will quit laying when they start a molt. They need to put all of their nutrition and energy into growing new feathers

#4 stress or changes in the envirionment. Hens are moody and will quit laying if they get stressed

Give her time. Figure out what she needs, if anything. She will start up again

 

[citychickinthecountry]

Okay, I'll go through your items and see if any of them fit her:

#1 shorter day light hours--This is quite possible since the seasons are starting to change and it's getting darker sooner.

#2 cold weather--This is a definite no since I live in Florida and we've had 80+ degree weather.

#3 molting--She's not molting...maybe she's going to start soon?

#4 stress or changes in the envirionment--No changes in environment; unless another hen laying eggs is making her jealous?

I'll think a little more about #2 and #4. Thanks for the input.

 

[citychickinthecountry]

Okay, so we're at a week and a half now; still no more eggs. She's not molting (found this out from another message I posted), it's not too hot or too cold where I live, she's not stressed, and there's been no change in her environment.

What else could it be? I'm worried!!!

 

[M To The Maxx]

Could you post a pic of her? I just want to see what she looks like.

 

[mrbstephens]

This was going on with my hens several weeks ago. I read somewhere on here that apples keep them from laying. Turns out I had been giving my hens lots of apples. I stopped giving them the apples and about 3 days later we were back to normal.

 

[Mahonri]

My speckled Sussex quit for two weeks and finally just laid another egg today. Wierd I know.

 

[citychickinthecountry]

Quote:
Here she is....her name is Angel.

 

[mrbstephens]

She's a pretty one! She's free ranging? I she hiding her eggs from you? Somewhere in the bushes?

 

[M To The Maxx]

Quote:
That is very possible.