Not laid for 3 days...please help !!

[tracylo09]

My 3 hens are now 7 months old and have been laying daily from 20 weeks of age. One of my hens 'Madge' has not laid an egg for 3 days now is this possible without her being egg bound? She seems happy and healthy in herself, eating, drinking & running around. She doesn't look uncomfortable or anything and I have checked everywhere to make sure she is not laying anywhere else. I saw her in the nest box this afternoon and thought yay, she's fine but sadly no egg.

Has anyone any ideas please, I am going on holiday on Saturday and need to make sure she is fine before I go

 

[terryg]

Very few chickens lay eggs daily. Most breeds lay about 4 eggs per week. Also, it takes over 25 + hours to make an egg, so each day the egg gets laid later and later. But, since eggs don't get laid at night at some point the hen takes a break for a day, and then starts to lay again in the morning. No worries! For more about how eggs are laid and how they get those gorgeous colors, you might want to read this: http://hencam.com/henblog/2012/02/brown-green-blue-white-chicken-egg-color-the-real-story/

 

[tracylo09]

Thanks for your reply, I know they can have the odd day off but it has been 3 days in a row and hasn't happened before. I just don't want her to be unwell. Very interesting and informative article though, can't believe how much work goes into producing an egg

.

 

[TwoCrows]

My girls will go on a laying spree and then go on strike sometimes. I have had them take nearly a week off from laying, after laying daily for nearly one week. As long as they still look good, act well, are eating and pooping, they should be fine.

 

[tracylo09]

Thank you, that's good to know, I feel a bit better now