One of my hens has stopped laying!!

[Kshelly8904]

Hey there! So I only have 2 hens. we got them together as chicks from a local hatchery about a year and a half ago. They free range but have a large coop and hen house they go into at night. Anyways about 3 weeks ago we put some baby chicks under one of our girls that was 21-23 days broody and things have been going GREAT!!! (yay) this last week she has started coming out of the hen house with them and letting them follow her into the rest of the coop and even out into the yard. Well since she started doing that our other girl has stopped laying all together. she isn't broody. acting her normal self over all but will not lay. Our girls are great together. momma lets her around the babies. they all eat together and free range together. they sleep in different nesting boxes in different parts of the hen house by choice. I'm not sure if she has stopped because she is acclimating to the chicks being out now or something else? but like I said we only have the 2 girls do now that shes stopped laying we are out of eggs! should I be doing something different or should I just give her time?

 

[ronott1]

It sounds like she is getting ready to molt. Your Hens are at the correct age and we are moving into Fall.

Do make sure she is not having an egg laying issue though

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Where are you located?

Your second gal maybe approaching molt as MOST do around their second fall.

What are you feeding?

 

[sourland]

She's at the age when hens generally take a break in their laying cycle. She may very well molt and rest a bit before restarting production.

 

[Kshelly8904]

It sounds like she is getting ready to molt. Your Hens are at the correct age and we are moving into Fall.

Do make sure she is not having an egg laying issue though

How would I check that? I'm actually a veterinary technician at our local animal hospital but our doc has no experience with chickens.

 

[ronott1]

How would I check that? I'm actually a veterinary technician at our local animal hospital but our doc has no experience with chickens.

Check the vent to see if there is ooze- yellow is bad. Palpate below the vent to see if you feel an egg that is stuck there.

 

[Kshelly8904]

Where are you located?

Your second gal maybe approaching molt as MOST do around their second fall.

What are you feeding?

located in Knoxville, Tennessee. the temps are starting to cool down some but it still feels like summer here. we are feeding layers pellets. I'm not sure the exact brand at the moment. it was one recommended by one of the guys at our local feed store

 

[coach723]

For molt, check her over for pin feathers coming in anywhere, look around the vent and tail, under wings, and around the head/neck especially. Any pin feathers would indicate a molt.

 

[sawilliams]

It could be the fact that the chicks cuase a sudden change in numbers. Put possibly becuase her friend hasn't been hanging out with her as much. But the reality are so many reasons that a hen can stop laying. There is also a chance since they free range she could be hiding eggs.

As long as there are no symptoms, and if you can't find a hidden nest really all you can do is wait a few weeks to seem if she goes back to normal. Depending on the stress it can take 2-4 weeks or longer for a hen to start laying again.

Make sure the mama isn't keeping the other from food and water too. Its possible with only 2 hens the mama could start bullying the second hen in an effort to protect the chicks. Not that she would necessarily be out right mean but chasing her from the food and water to keep those areas clear and safe for the chicks

Molting is also a likely reason.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

located in Knoxville, Tennessee. the temps are starting to cool down some but it still feels like summer here. we are feeding layers pellets. I'm not sure the exact brand at the moment. it was one recommended by one of the guys at our local feed store

Temp is irrelevant to molt, it is usually brought on by diminishing daylight... which is what effects laying hormones. All are individuals and some will molt early, late, or not at all.

So are you feeding your broody and chicks layer also?? Always get a second opinion on things told by feed store employees as they often have little to no true animal experience of their own.

If you are feeding layer to all... stop now and go get a nonmedicated starter or flock raiser and make oyster shell (or crushed egg shell) available on the side in case your other gal starts laying again.... Layer will have too much calcium and too little protein for your littles. If your other gal is molting... the extra protein will help pull her through faster as feather are made from 90% protein and it's amino acids.

Too much calcium (more than 3%) fed long term to birds not in lay including chicks, broody's, molters, and roosters *can* (doesn't mean will) cause gout and even kidney failure. On the other end too little protein fed to chicks will delay maturity AND stunt growth. Keep your bird on the starter or flock raiser until your chicks are approaching lay. I personally NEVER switch to layer, as 16% protein is the BARE minimum to support a light bodied layer like leghorn and dual purpose breeds like Marans, Wyandottes, Reds, Rocks and others will do best on about 18% protein...

One indicator of molt is if it looks like a pillow exploded in the sleeping area.

I can't imagine 2 hens sleeping in next boxes. And I ONLY allow my broody's to do that... but we all have different practices.

Feel free to post a pic... many of us can pick out molting birds easily.