New laying hen stopped laying

[Crazyfarmlady25]

My black australorp started laying beginning of Aug but she hasn't layed an egg in like 10 days. My starlight started laying about that time. They are both round 6 months old. She acts normal and looks normal but not sure if the just cold turkey no egg from her is normal or not?

 

[Debbie292d]

She could be going through a juvenile molt but that doesn't usually stop egg laying. Are they on a layer feed or all-flock with oyster shell on the side, and not getting too much scratch or other treats?

Have you added any chickens to the flock, or was there a predator scare or anything you've been aware of? Sometimes heat or stress can stop them from laying temporarily.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My black australorp started laying beginning of Aug but she hasn't layed an egg in like 10 days. My starlight started laying about that time. They are both round 6 months old. She acts normal and looks normal but not sure if the just cold turkey no egg from her is normal or not?

Sometimes pullets can take a break after coming into lay.

Any chance they have a nest hidden somewhere?

 

[Crazyfarmlady25]

She could be going through a juvenile molt but that doesn't usually stop egg laying. Are they on a layer feed or all-flock with oyster shell on the side, and not getting too much scratch or other treats?

Have you added any chickens to the flock, or was there a predator scare or anything you've been aware of? Sometimes heat or stress can stop them from laying temporarily.

They have been on layer feed since got them in july and have oyster shells and grit all day long. I put the feed and water in the coop at night also. They don't get scratch and only get fruit occasionally when it's been hot (almost always frozen in water). We have been having cooler weather the last 10 days (high in the 70's during the day and lows in the 50's at night. We are going to be back in the 90's by the end of the week then in the upper 80's otherwise so nights will be in the 60's. Have not introduced or removed any birds. There have not been any predators that I'm aware of. They all are loosing a few feathers here and there but only like 2 or 3. I had done a deep bedding (wood chips) method when put in their coop and just cleaned it totally out and replaced the bedding over the weekend but she had stopped laying (that we knew of. Though found an egg when cleaning out bedding that had been buried) but otherwise nothing new or changed.

 

[Debbie292d]

They have been on layer feed since got them in july and have oyster shells and grit all day long. I put the feed and water in the coop at night also. They don't get scratch and only get fruit occasionally when it's been hot (almost always frozen in water). We have been having cooler weather the last 10 days (high in the 70's during the day and lows in the 50's at night. We are going to be back in the 90's by the end of the week then in the upper 80's otherwise so nights will be in the 60's. Have not introduced or removed any birds. There have not been any predators that I'm aware of. They all are loosing a few feathers here and there but only like 2 or 3. I had done a deep bedding (wood chips) method when put in their coop and just cleaned it totally out and replaced the bedding over the weekend but she had stopped laying (that we knew of. Though found an egg when cleaning out bedding that had been buried) but otherwise nothing new or changed.

Okay. I just saw @Wyorp Rock's reply, and just random stopping is a possibility too, as otherwise, everything else sounds perfect for them.

Mine skip laying all the time, so I'm pretty used to it (Silkies). Other than when they molt, they usually pick back up in a week or two. They lay all winter, too, so I don't mind. I just brush it off as many of them are under a year.

 

[Crazyfarmlady25]

Sometimes pullets can take a break after coming into lay.

Any chance they have a nest hidden somewhere?

When we cleaned it over the weekend found an egg that had been buried but we have been gently sifting the bedding incase they are hiding them but so far no eggs from her just from the starlight.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Typical reasons for a chicken to stop laying:

The molt - Some people believe that chickens only molt at a specific age or at a specific time of the year. Not true. A chicken can molt at any age or any time of the year for many different reasons. Some chickens drop a ton of feathers immediately when they molt, as if a pillowcase burst open. Others lose a very few feathers at a time. You cannot tell they are molting just by looking at them. You said you are seeing a few feathers flying around. That could possibly mean a molt.

Hiding a nest - They are laying but you don't know where the nest is. They can be extremely good at hiding a nest in plain sight.

Something is getting the eggs - Many critters will eat chicken eggs. Some leave signs behind like broken shells or wet spots but a few swallow the eggs whole. Since it is one pullet's egg only this is unlikely.

Stress can cause them to temporarily stop laying. You've ruled out most of these typical causes. Your change in temperatures should not be enough to cause a problem. No predator scares you are aware of. Changing the bedding like that has never caused an issue with mine. Maybe a change in pecking order? It's hard to cover everything possible but if it was stress she probably should have started backup by now unless it led to a molt.

The days getting shorter may have an effect. Many pullets lay through their first fall/winter but many does not mean all.

So what can you do? A normal suyggestion is to mark an egg or two and leave them down there. If it disappears then you know something is getting them. Since it is one specific pullet's egg this is unlikely to help. If you can confine her to a cage or small area for a couple of days you may lock her away form a hidden nest or lock an egg-eater out.

Observe her. If she is acting normal she is probably not sick. If she is not hiding a nest it sounds like she has shut down laying, maybe for a short while or maybe until the days get longer in spring. I understand you are frustrated but that can happen when you deal with living animals.

Good luck!