Hen was Laying, Now Not but She Lost Access to Her Nest Box

[jlwquilter]

I have a relatively new layer Marti. She’s a lavender Orpington. She started laying about a month ago. Small speckled brown eggs. She laid in the sun roost nest box not the regular nest boxes. At the time is was great because I was trying to spread the egg laying around to different boxes due to issues with my leghorns patrolling the boxes and making it very difficult for the other hens to lay.

Everything was great with Marti for maybe 2 weeks or so. Then a hen got sick and I separated her into the hospital which happens to be the sun roost coop. The sick hen started sleeping where Marti had been laying. Marti stopped laying. Theoretically she could have laid as she had access but I can understand why she didn’t.

The problem is that I don’t think Marti has laid since. I lost track of that due to the sick hen stuff. But I’m home again (went away for a week and the sitter has those eggs so I can’t check them) and since the sick hen situation is resolved (cull unfortunately) I can focus on Marti.

She got a complete health check today and she looks great. No issues at all. No weight loss either.

One other hen had been laying in the sun roost prior to the sick hen and she moved onto the regular nesting boxes and is laying fine.

So what should it do to get Marti back to laying? I could lock her in the sun roost coop during the day for a few days and see if she lays in her preferred nest box. She’s never been separated so I don’t know how she’ll take to that. Stress of separating her may make her not lay too and make the whole point moot.

I should note that the separation is still within the larger coop and run so Marti would still see/be with everyone during the day although the hens don’t hang out in that area much.

I really can’t think of anything else to try so could really use some ideas here! Thanks!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Are you sure she's not laying somewhere you haven't found yet?
How many layers & nest boxes do you have?
Have you checked her over of mites/lice?
What does her vent area look like; moist, swollen, red?

 

[jlwquilter]

Pic of vent right now. Looks ok to me. Maybe not quite as moist as some of the active layers. She’s got a tiny little bit of poop butt.

Pretty sure there no place for her to hide an egg. Wish there was!

 

[ChickNanny13]

Her vent doesn't look like it's producing Need to call out the more experienced BYCers. Glad you put your location, will tag those within your time zone plus some that may still be on ... Just noticed the forum you posted in, think if you copied and reposted in the Emergencies forum, you'd get better/faster responses.

@dawg53 @Wyorp Rock @WVduckchick @Eggcessive @aart @casportpony @azygous Thank you all in advance

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The sick hen started sleeping where Marti had been laying. Marti stopped laying. Theoretically she could have laid as she had access but I can understand why she didn’t.

So what should it do to get Marti back to laying?

Maybe not quite as moist as some of the active layers.

How old is she?
A pullet or hen that is in lay will continue to lay her egg regardless if the nesting box is available - they can't just "turn it off".
I would look around and see if she's been laying her egg in a corner, under something, if it's hidden.
If she's acting normal, eating/drinking, active and shows no sign of distress, then I would watch her for a few days to see if/where she is laying.

If she is a very new layer, it's not uncommon for the to take a break while their body adjusts, so that's also something to consider

 

[BYC910]

Could she or another be eating the eggs ? Sometimes unless you catch them in the act . It's hard to tell . Maybe put a video camera in the coop.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a "sun roost coop"?

 

[jlwquilter]

She’s about 7 months old. I’m
Almost 100% positive she was laying. Only 3 hens ever laid in there and one was a leghorn and Lily was the other and I know her eggs. Marti’s was quite different Not every day though. I have never seen her in the regular nesting boxes. Not once. Not even hanging around them acting interested. She went for the sun roost box right away and always laid in there. That was smart of her given the drama surrounding the regular nest boxes.

I guess she or another could be eating her eggs. Seems unlikely but it’s possible.

I have cameras but not for the sun roost nest box. I’d basically have to stalk Marti all day. I’m not sure I can really do that. I may have to lock her in there during the day and see what happens. Maybe she won’t freak out too badly.

 

[jlwquilter]

Pardon my ignorance, but what is a "sun roost coop"?

It’s just what I call that particular coop. We have several coops and we need to name them so we know which we’re referring to. It’s a very small set up my husband built a few years ago. We use it now as a hospital or jail depending on the hen’s situation.

 

[aart]

But I’m home again (went away for a week and the sitter has those eggs so I can’t check them)

When did you get back?
No chance to ask the sitter what eggs were in that SR coop(did Marti have access there while you were gone)??
I'd not worry too much, unless pullet is acting ill.

Just noticed the forum you posted in, think if you copied and reposted in the Emergencies forum, you'd get better/faster responses.

This is not an emergency.