My young hen stopped laying eggs??

[BlueSkadu]

Hi all, I am a newbie to backyard chickens. I've been using these forums to answer most of my questions and it's been a life saver (or egg saver ;-). Now I have a questions that I don't see an answer to. I have three chickens two started laying eggs about a week ago. I have a camera on the nesting box so I've been able to keep track of them. One of the girls (RIR mix) layed two eggs in three days and hasn't layed since (it's been 5 days since her last egg). She will go into the nesting box for 10-20 minutes in the morning and then come out but there is no egg. It's the only time she goes into the nesting box and she always chooses the one with no other eggs (I have a couple of ceramic eggs in the boxes for now). I have been getting an egg a day from the other RIR mix that started laying.

I was under the impression when the hen becomes broody she is in the box all the time trying to lay on the other eggs. Plus I wouldn't think she would become broody after laying her first two eggs? Do I need to just wait this out or is there something I should be concerned with?

Thanks for your help!

 

[OrganicFarmWife]

Most likely it is just because she is young. Young hens will go a while in between laying an egg. As they get older they begin laying more consistently.
Another possibility is the amount of daylight she is getting. As we go onto winter, the amount of sunlight they get decreases. This can make a hen stop laying for several weeks.

 

[aart]

Newly laying pullets can start and stop....
.....not too unusual especially considering the short days(if you are in the northern hemisphere).
As long as she eating, drinking pooping, active as normal, she's probably fine.

 

[BlueSkadu]

Thank you for the replies. I didn't wan to get too worried because she is so young and just started laying. I just thought it was odd that she would sit in the nesting box even though she's not laying an egg. I do have a light on in the coop to help with the lack of light. I will just wait it out. She is very healthy otherwise.