My laying pullet, a Silver Laced Wyandotte, is on STRIKE

[KIMEng]

So Sue Ellen is on strike and has not been laying for about 6 wks now, She started laying at 16 wks old and is now 28 wks old. For about the last month and a half no eggs. I first thought she was egg bound. Her back feathers were "very messy" and also thought maybe she was laying shell less eggs. I gave her a nice warm bath got her all cleaned off and then she got two meals of scrambled eggs with a crushed egg shell in it-well no egg and she was acting her usual self. She has never acted "sick"
Mitigating factors;
1. we had enlarged the coop from 50 sq feet to 200 sq feet. this new coop was a redesign of our old coop after a predator attack, raccoon, snatched my Leghorn from our locked hen house. The older girls had not been sleeping in the coop at night for a couple of months after the attack until the new predator proof coop was finished
2. At about the same time we were introducing our new flock to our older laying pullets, they are getting along ok now but there is still some old flock chasing new flock and new flock running from old flock-I think this is better -we are about 5 wks into the integration of the 2 flocks.
3. Sue Ellen never laid in the nesting bins, she was a squat, drop and keep going, saw this in action on time, I was completely amazed- so my husband thinks she may still be laying but the girls are eating up the egg. I'm out there several times a day so I think i would catch a glimpse of this as Sue was always an afternoon layer.

Our 3 flock grew to 7 but the RSL and BR keep laying, actually every day we get an egg from them.
Diet: laying pellets and all flock pellets, veggie of the day, occasional fruit, free ranging, oyster shell ad grit.

Maybe Sue is just mad about the new living arrangements or stressed that the last time they were in there, there was a predator attack, but that's months ago....I just don't know she is a very health girl? What do y'all think? Thank you ....Kim

 

[azygous]

Yes, all those factors could cause stress and curtail laying. Add onto those daylight becoming shorter each day and you could have an acceptable explanation.

But, don't rule out her individual health status. She could have something going on that is taxing her reproductive system. Is she still accumulating runny poop deposits on her butt feathers? A photo would be helpful.

If the runny stuff is chalky white, she could have an intestinal yeast infection. If the deposits are yellow, it could signal a reproductive issue.

 

[KIMEng]

Yes, all those factors could cause stress and curtail laying. Add onto those daylight becoming shorter each day and you could have an acceptable explanation.

But, don't rule out her individual health status. She could have something going on that is taxing her reproductive system. Is she still accumulating runny poop deposits on her butt feathers? A photo would be helpful.

If the runny stuff is chalky white, she could have an intestinal yeast infection. If the deposits are yellow, it could signal a reproductive issue.

She is no longer having the runny poop issue, below is 2 pictures pre bath messy bottom about 5-6 wks ago and she did not have any more issues after that and then her nice tidy bottom now.

 

[aart]

free ranging,

All day ranging?

Might be time for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then maybe:
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[KIMEng]

All day ranging?

Might be time for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then maybe:
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

Free Ranging is very limited. only when we are monitoring them, we have a very curious red tail hawk in the area and multiple predators out and about. Our property butts up to a preserve and we have all sorts of critter visitors. They are mainly housed in the coop. My RSL and BR lay in the nesting boxes in the hen house like clock work everyday, Sue Ellen never did, she also does not fuss at all when laying-but not laying at all now. The new flock will not go in the hen house at all, so we have placed some nesting boxes out in the run, mounted up a bit and put the fake eggs in them. We are hoping they get the idea. We did have one of the eggs fall out of one of the nesting boxes in the hen house and fell to the ground, they completely attacked it and consumed the entire egg/shell-so my husband theory is Sue MAY BE laying but in the coop and the chickens are eating it. Looks like it's time to video the girls!