one chicken not laying- not sick

[Tor14]

I've got a flock of 10 with 2 roos all around 10 months old. I have a very reliable layer who was giving me an egg a day and suddenly stopped last week. All other girls continue to lay throughout our bristly and dark Vermont winter. Shes acting normally, eating, drinking, stooling all fine. I know birds tend to slow down in the winter, but wasn't sure if this that normal?

 

[The-White-Elephant]

@Eggcessive

 

[Ridgerunner]

I know birds tend to slow down in the winter, but wasn't sure if this that normal?

I don't consider it that unusual no matter their age or the time of the year. It's not always easy to figure out why.

A molt or mini-molt is always possible. For many different reasons a hen can molt at any time, it's not always tied to age or the time of the year. If you see several feathers her color floating around that's probably the cause. A molt is not at the top of my list.

Since it is one specific hen I think that rules out an egg stealing varmint. Not sure how you can tell that it is that specific hen not laying and the others are.

High on my list is that she is hiding a nest from you. That's a pretty common cause for something like this.

It doesn't sound like she is broody.

Some hens are more susceptible to weather than others. Some do slow down dramatically in bad weather, either heat or cold. As long as she is acting healthy I wouldn't worry.

 

[Tor14]

I don't consider it that unusual no matter their age or the time of the year. It's not always easy to figure out why.

A molt or mini-molt is always possible. For many different reasons a hen can molt at any time, it's not always tied to age or the time of the year. If you see several feathers her color floating around that's probably the cause. A molt is not at the top of my list.

Since it is one specific hen I think that rules out an egg stealing varmint. Not sure how you can tell that it is that specific hen not laying and the others are.

High on my list is that she is hiding a nest from you. That's a pretty common cause for something like this.

It doesn't sound like she is broody.

Some hens are more susceptible to weather than others. Some do slow down dramatically in bad weather, either heat or cold. As long as she is acting healthy I wouldn't worry.

She’s our only blue egg layer so that’s how I know they’re missing. I’ll do some searching around the yard to try and find a hidden nest. Thank you!

 

[Yardmom]

Sometimes even young hens take a break when daylight is shorter. All birds have their own cycle, but being she is a different breed than your other girls chances are her breaks will not be the same as your others. Unless she is acting unusual I would assume the lack of eggs is connected with the lack of day light.