Not the Typical Egg-Laying-Stoppage Question: No Usual Suspects

[sixpantsmaloney]

We hear this question all the time. But this one is a real doozy.

Our best layer suddenly stopped laying. She went from 5-6 a week to nothing for the past 3 weeks or so. She's a one-year old Wyandotte. Here's what we've ruled out:

1) Not molting

2) No bugs, pests, etc.

3) Not broody (sleeps on perch, ranges all day)*

4) No change in environment.

5) No change in behavior.

6) No change in diet.

7) Oyster shells available. Never a problem with shell strength.

8) Free range, lots of food, her sister is still laying fine.

9) Nice weather: 50s-70s in NE Ohio. Nothing unusual.

One day we found what looked like egg white in the nesting box. No yolk, no shell. We suspect it's from her.

So all you eggxperts... anything I'm overlooking? We only have 2... we can't have a freeloader. Save her from the soup pot!

Thank You,
Brian

* When I say "not broody" it's worth noting she went through a phase where she was sitting a lot. Sometimes in the coop in the nest box. Other times out in the yard... very unusual for her since she's usually ranging about the yard. But, other than these brief sitting episodes which seem to have stopped, she hasn't been "broody" by any of the other characteristics I've read about here.

 

[Rockportcrpntr]

She could be eating her eggs mine did that I had to go out and check for eggs more often

 

[gritsar]

Sounds like it's time to go on an easter egg hunt to me.

 

[beakkeeper]

Internal laying? Egg eating?

 

[sixpantsmaloney]

There aren't many hidden places for the eggs in the yard. I've looked a few times.

Egg eating... never thought of that. Problem is we've only had one incident where we saw "egg remains".

I will check more often, but I suspect there would be "crumbs" if that were happening and there aren't.

Thanks for your thoughts!
Brian

 

[caralouise1974]

I wondered about internal laying, but if she isn't showing signs of feeling under the weather and isn't feeling swollen up down below, then she's probably fine.

Egg eating seems most likely then...

 

[gritsar]

I would never feed my chickens raw eggs, but they stole and ate one I fed to the dog once. The evidence was very clear on their beaks and faces.

 

[K-Chick]

Maybe she's "out" of eggs. Every chicken is different. Just a thought