One chicken not laying but all the others are

[Bitsyblue]

I have 5 chickens and this is their first winter. I live in central Texas and the days are shorter but not too cold yet. One of the chickens is not laying and I am concerned why. She acts normal, but last night I noticed that she was sleeping in the nesting box and not on the roost with the others. That is the only odd behavior. I have not found any eggs around our small property.
Thank you for any advice.

 

[sourland]

Any possibility that she is going broody?

 

[Bitsyblue]

I am familiar with the term but not sure exactly how it exhibits itself. She doesn't have an egg that she is trying to hatch, just not laying any and sleeping in the nesting box.

 

[BoundlessLove]

This thread helps explain some signs of broodiness.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broody-signs.1659452/

 

[rosemarythyme]

Even first year layers can be affected by shortening day lengths and molt, which slows or stops laying. How does she look? Do you see an increase in feathers on the ground or missing patches of feathers on her?

 

[BDutch]

Broodiness comes after laying eggs. A broody stops laying, and sits in a nest almost 24/7 . This is hormonal induced behaviour.

Other possibilities: she is not well and she feels better in a nestbox to rest and heal. Or she is getting bullied when she wants to roost and the nestbox is the second best place to rest.

 

[Bitsyblue]

This thread helps explain some signs of broodiness.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/broody-signs.1659452/

Thank you. I will check it out

 

[Bitsyblue]

Even first year layers can be affected by shortening day lengths and molt, which slows or stops laying. How does she look? Do you see an increase in feathers on the ground or missing patches of feathers on her?

She doesn't have any feathers missing. She is a very pretty lady and looks healthy.

 

[Bitsyblue]

Broodiness comes after laying eggs. A broody stops laying, and sits in a nest almost 24/7 . This is hormonal induced behaviour.

Other possibilities: she is not well and she feels better in a nestbox to rest and heal. Or she is getting bullied when she wants to roost and the nestbox is the second best place to rest.

I thought about the possibility of wanting to get away from the others. However, she has always been the first one in the coop at night, signalling the others when to go in. And I haven't noticed her being bullied. But I will keep a closer watch to see if this is happening. She hasn't laid in over a week, and only in the nesting box the past 3 nights.