Not Broody, Not Laying

[Stephoney]

I have a 1 1/2 year old black Americauna, Hilde, that I treated for sour crop a few months back (the larger of the two Ameraucanas in the photo). She only laid one or two eggs since. Her sour crop is cured and she’s eating fine, including consuming extra oyster shell. Her comb is bright red and she’s been wormed. She’s alert and moves around scratching and pecking while she free ranges. She eats a good quality layer feed with extra protein (scrambled eggs, leftover meat from dinner, etc) when it’s available. For the past month I’ve been soaking the feed for a few hours before feeding it to the flock.

Here’s the thing- Hilde sits in the nesting box most days for an hour or so, but lays no egg. She doesn’t hiss or fluff up. She isn’t broody. When she’s finished, not sure how she decides this, she hops out of the nest and goes about her day in as good a mood as any. Anyone have an idea what’s happening with her?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

Check her abdomen for internal laying. Her abdomen should not feel squishy or very hard. Palpitate your abdomen for what it should feel like (soft but not squishy...some resistance but not hard).

It *might* be she is contemplating brooding. Some hens don't gain enough of the hormones to go into a full brood, but contemplate a few hours a day.

Also, at 1 1/2 years she may be molting? Some go through a soft molt that is barely noticeable but interferes with their laying.

Finally, is sneaky hiding her eggs?

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[Stephoney]

Hi- I checked her abdomen before, but didn’t find anything to lead me to believe she was internally laying. I don’t have any experience with this, but I suspect my Sussex has this problem. Hilde is thin, but eats fine. My entire flock free ranges throughout the day so they tend to be on the lean side. Maybe she’s too lean? She eats until she’s full. I’m not sure how to encourage more aside from offering treats. She’s definitely not laying anywhere else. As far as a molt, I haven’t seen any of her feathers around to indicate that she’s going through one. She went through a light molt last fall though.