Lay, lay, lay....STOP. What gives?

[Nebraskagirl]

My Welsh Harlequin, who was hatched last spring, just started laying for the first time ever about two weeks ago. She was laying about every other day (a couple times she would lay two days in a row) but for the past four days....NOTHING. She appears fine, is eating, drinking, moves fine with no changes to her or the drake. They are getting along nicely like always. I just wonder what happened. We did get another snow yesterday (about 6 inches) but I just want to know if this is normal. She is given crushed oyster shell and her eggs she did lay were very nice firm hard eggs. What gives?

 

[brahmabreeder]

I'm applying what I know about chickens here. I find that sometimes first timers like to lay for a bit and then take a break as they're getting into the whole laying thing.

 

[Nebraskagirl]

I knew they took breaks, I just thought it wouldn't be that long. I have heard of them getting an egg "stuck" inside, but she appears totally fine. Just worried I guess.

 

[Amiga]

We've got some starts and stops this year. My runners have taken the longest break ever - a solid four months - and I have been given two runner eggs this week. All three buff girls laid for a couple of days, then no one, and this morning Romy and one of the other buffs each laid an egg, but no runners today.

Keep a watchful eye - if the drake gets too busy doing what drakes do, it could stop her laying. But I am not blaming it on him entirely, just in case he asks.

 

[Nebraskagirl]

We've got some starts and stops this year. My runners have taken the longest break ever - a solid four months - and I have been given two runner eggs this week. All three buff girls laid for a couple of days, then no one, and this morning Romy and one of the other buffs each laid an egg, but no runners today.

Keep a watchful eye - if the drake gets too busy doing what drakes do, it could stop her laying. But I am not blaming it on him entirely, just in case he asks.

I did "walk in on them" today playing "duck duck goose" (that is what my five year old calls it!) so the frequency could be to blame? I never thought of that. Oh and Amiga, I just wanted to say thank you for always replying to my threads with such wisdom and great advice. I truly appreciate it

Everyone else too is just great at giving advice and putting my mind at ease.

 

[Omadawn]

My runner has recently started laying , I ve had eggs the last 3 days and nothing today, was wondering it maybe the weather change as we have had snow since yesterday, hope so. ... hopefully they will all start laying again soon.

Omadawn xx