No egg for 3 months??

[chicchickmama77]

So we have 1 and a half year old black sex link and almost 3 months ago she stopped laying. We thought she was molting bc she lost some feathers, but after a month she stopped so we waited. At some point her comb got paler and she looked sick but we thought it was from molting. Now her comb is bright red, she is looking very healthy, but still no eggs. I checked for mites and her skin is clean and white. She has plenty of water and pellets, plus I've been giving other good protein treats. I even checked her vent and it's plump and looks healthy. We live in south Florida and it's been hot, but the other chickens are laying. Any idea what could be going on??? help

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

What is her behavior? Has she been sitting on a nest at all? Is she by herself?

 

[chicchickmama77]

What is her behavior? Has she been sitting on a nest at all? Is she by herself?

She is the same as usual. always runs to me when I go outside, she is free range and always going around with her pals. The only difference I noticed was she used to fly over our gate and now she doesn't.

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

She is the same as usual. always runs to me when I go outside, she is free range and always going around with her pals. The only difference I noticed was she used to fly over our gate and now she doesn't.

Hmm... flying over your gate? Did she ever lay any eggs out of the box? When was the last time you had her penned up for three consecutive days? Is the "gate" the chicken fence? Maybe she's not jumping it because she has gained weight, or her wing are clipped.
I really want to stress that you should pen her up. Imagine three month's worth of rotten eggs hiding somewhere. Or worse, attracting wild animals.

 

[chicchickmama77]

We have a half

Hmm... flying over your gate? Did she ever lay any eggs out of the box? When was the last time you had her penned up for three consecutive days? Is the "gate" the chicken fence? Maybe she's not jumping it because she has gained weight, or her wing are clipped.
I really want to stress that you should pen her up. Imagine three month's worth of rotten eggs hiding somewhere. Or worse, attracting wild animals.

So she has never laid a egg outside her box, not to my knowledge. I can do a more thorough check. it's only a 1/2 or less of an acre of gated area. she goes into the coop every night with the other and come out when the sun comes out. I'd hate to keep her locked up all day ;( but maybe I should in case.
Thanks for the advise!

 

[Fanci Feathers Marans]

We have a half



So she has never laid a egg outside her box, not to my knowledge. I can do a more thorough check. it's only a 1/2 or less of an acre of gated area. she goes into the coop every night with the other and come out when the sun comes out. I'd hate to keep her locked up all day ;( but maybe I should in case.
Thanks for the advise!

You're welcome. It's hard to shut them up, I know. They look at you with those sad eyes... but it should only take a day or two to get down to the bottom of this.
Hope you find those eggs!

 

[Bluechick2u]

Just in case... my hens got attacked by red roost mites, the mites do not stay on the chicken, they hide and breed in cracks of wood and come out at night to drain blood. Just in case, check at night with a flashlight on the underside of the perch. That was the only sign I had, and the wood walls were infested, so it had been going a long time with no mite sightings

 

[aart]

Check her pelvic points...if they are spaced apart, lock her up for a week or so.

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 3-4 days (or longer) 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 24/7 for a few days to a week, 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.

Pelvic Points, feel for the 2 bony points(pelvic bones F-F) on either side of vent:
Less than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means not laying.
More than 2 fingertip widths apart usually means laying.
(Spacing is relative with chickens size and humans finger size.)