My hen is behaving like a rooster and stopped laying!

[Miss Tree]

My 2 year old australorp molted, layed 20 eggs then stopped. She looks healthy and behaves normally with great appetite etc.
She goes into her nesting box daily and spends some time but produces no egg.
The only unusual behavior is that she mounts my other hen many times a day. I’ve read that a rooster-less flock will sometimes have a head hen take over some rooster behaviors.

I worry about her being eggbound but she exhibits no symptoms of that.
I did notice this year that she looks more regal than ever with super red comb and wattles. Her earlobes used to big and white but now they are black..I had read that was a sign of fertility.
My question is should I just observe and wait or take her to a vet?
She isn’t walking like a penguin or squatting.
She free ranges all day and eats new country organics whole grain feed (17%protein) and I give her veggies.
It’s been 10 days of no eggs.

 

[Weeg]

I don't think that her not laying is nessasrily a health issue. I believe I've heard that sometimes, rarely, but sometimes, a rooster less flock will cause a hen to turn into a rooster. That is probably not the right wording, I don't think, "turn into a rooster" is very scientific at all lol, but it happens. Can you get pics of her? Maybe even a before an after pic if you have one.
Otherwise, when hens get older, usually at 2ish, they stop laying as often, but not usually as abruptly as this. You said she spends time in the nesting box, does she have any signs of going broody? Maybe not, but that is another reason why she would stop laying eggs.
If its been 10 days and you've seen no abnormal behavior other then not laying, I wouldn't' be o concerned about a health issue. I would think its something else.

 

[Northwest_Wannabe]

Her earlobes are black? Are you sure that's not frostbite? I've got two crowing hens, one developed it while we had a rooster, the other developed it when we didn't have one.

If she's not showing symptoms of being egg bound I wouldn't necessarily worry about her being egg bound, is she broody? Is there a secret nest? What's the weather like where you're at? When did she molt and when did she last lay eggs?

 

[Miss Tree]

Her earlobes are black? Are you sure that's not frostbite? I've got two crowing hens, one developed it while we had a rooster, the other developed it when we didn't have one.

If she's not showing symptoms of being egg bound I wouldn't necessarily worry about her being egg bound, is she broody? Is there a secret nest? What's the weather like where you're at? When did she molt and when did she last lay eggs?

Not cold enough for frostbite here in New Orleans. Upon further inspection I realize her earlobes aren’t black, they have shrunken and folded in on themselves..if that makes sense..sort of concertina style. I thought the same thing about a secret nest and watched her, she always uses the nesting box. She laid about 10 days ago.

 

[Miss Tree]

I don't think that her not laying is nessasrily a health issue. I believe I've heard that sometimes, rarely, but sometimes, a rooster less flock will cause a hen to turn into a rooster. That is probably not the right wording, I don't think, "turn into a rooster" is very scientific at all lol, but it happens. Can you get pics of her? Maybe even a before an after pic if you have one.
Otherwise, when hens get older, usually at 2ish, they stop laying as often, but not usually as abruptly as this. You said she spends time in the nesting box, does she have any signs of going broody? Maybe not, but that is another reason why she would stop laying eggs.
If its been 10 days and you've seen no abnormal behavior other then not laying, I wouldn't' be o concerned about a health issue. I would think its something else.

I’m beginning to think she is just done with laying..but I keep observing her for signs of ill health..

 

[artbykarenehaley]

Any updates so far?