How long can she keep this up?

[Vickilynn45]

I have a 32 week old Black Australorp who was laying for me every day. She would never lay in the nest box, but chose a spot in the garden under the tomatoes. Once we harvested the garden, her private spot was gone and she threw a daily fit wanting me to fix her a spot somewhere private to lay. No matter how many times I put her in the nest box, she just hopped right back out and laid her egg somewhere else. About 1 1/2 months ago she stopped laying completely. She seems healthy, and I continually check the backyard for eggs in case she is laying somewhere else. But there are none. How long can she keep this up??

 

[Smoochie]

Possibly she has an ultra secret laying spot or she just doesn't think it is the right season for reproductivity. Hens typically slow down or stop completely around fall/ winter and start right back up in spring. Hopefully making up for lost time. supplement lighting may help..

 

[Vickilynn45]

I hope that when spring comes around she starts back in. I don't think she has a laying spot in the yard as our yard is small and fenced and there really isn't anywhere she could hide it. I was hoping that when the cold really hits, and they stay inside the coop most of the time, that she'll get a hint from watching the others. Thanks for your reply!

 

[donrae]

You can try confining her to see if she's laying. If she truely quit, she'll start up again in the spring.

 

[rendezvous1838]

Hi,
I am also in Lander,
One of our EEs took a 6 week break in November/ December. She started again Christmas day and promptly the other EE stopped.
Has your BA started laying again?

 

[Vickilynn45]

Well nice to hear from someone else in Lander! When we had some really nice weather about a month ago the BA started laying again about three days in a row, but then stopped. One egg was laid in the corner of their coop where she made a nest and the others were laid under a tarp by the straw pile lol. The EE has never laid an egg yet so I'm hoping that will change come spring time!

 

[rendezvous1838]

Jump in on the wyoming unite thread
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/699789/wyoming-unite/10#post_10341091