Pullet laying 1 egg a week

[newbiechickenmamma11]

Hi there, I have a pullet that just started laying early July. The first month or so she was laying 4-5 eggs a week, but it's slowly dropped down and the past 4 weeks she's laying one egg a week.

I wanted to check if there might be something wrong with her healthwise? or if this is normal pattern of lay? All other chickens in my flock are laying regularly/normally.

She was wormed with Flubenol approx 3 months ago, but hasn't had mite/lice treatment before.

 

[Bawkbok]

It can take a while, weeks or sometimes months, for young pullets to get their production laying habits consistent. Shorter days, less light also affects egg laying and they slow down and pick back up again in spring. She's too young for a full blown molt but will go through some level of molting as she looses her pullet feathers and grows her adult feathers. This will also inhibit egg production. When they go through their first full molt at around 18 months of age, egg laying stops all together as all protein goes into feather production. Breed also determines egg laying success as some breeds still lay over winter months but with less frequency.

 

[newbiechickenmamma11]

It can take a while, weeks or sometimes months, for young pullets to get their production laying habits consistent. Shorter days, less light also affects egg laying and they slow down and pick back up again in spring. She's too young for a full blown molt but will go through some level of molting as she looses her pullet feathers and grows her adult feathers. This will also inhibit egg production. When they go through their first full molt at around 18 months of age, egg laying stops all together as all protein goes into feather production. Breed also determines egg laying success as some breeds still lay over winter months but with less frequency.

Ah I forgot to mention I am in Australia. So we're going into summer and longer days! But does it take this long to get into a regular rhythm if she's been laying for approx 12 weeks now?

 

[Bawkbok]

If she is acting normal, eating and drinking normal, no illness or injuries, it could just be a glitch. Have there been changes to the flock recently? Any environmental stressors (such as construction) or other things that could be creating stress?

 

[newbiechickenmamma11]

If she is acting normal, eating and drinking normal, no illness or injuries, it could just be a glitch. Have there been changes to the flock recently? Any environmental stressors (such as construction) or other things that could be creating stress?

Yes there was one day she got locked out of the coop and she didn't lay for an entire week (but then laid 4 the week after, but after that she has been laying 1 a week). And there's always construction noise unfortunately as I am in an urban area. Two weeks ago I another pullet passed away as well suddenly, though I wouldn't say they were close So I guess yes?

 

[Mother of Chaos]

Yes there was one day she got locked out of the coop and she didn't lay for an entire week (but then laid 4 the week after, but after that she has been laying 1 a week). And there's always construction noise unfortunately as I am in an urban area. Two weeks ago I another pullet passed away as well suddenly, though I wouldn't say they were close So I guess yes?

How big is your flock? If it's a small flock, she might be stressed by the loss of the other, even if they weren't besties.

 

[Bawkbok]

Mother of Chaos is correct. We have a small flock of four so any loss is traumatic for the remainder. That could have thrown her into a hiatus. Give her time; she should rebound.
Construction noise is also stressful, even if constant. Our girls hate the loud back up beeps that construction trucks make and even though there are several school busses that fly down the street every day they still freeze in an alarmed state every time. Just not natural noises for them.

 

[Beau plus penny]

Hi there, I have a pullet that just started laying early July. The first month or so she was laying 4-5 eggs a week, but it's slowly dropped down and the past 4 weeks she's laying one egg a week.

I wanted to check if there might be something wrong with her healthwise? or if this is normal pattern of lay? All other chickens in my flock are laying regularly/normally.

She was wormed with Flubenol approx 3 months ago, but hasn't had mite/lice treatment before.

well considering its october they typically start to slow down around this time even laying hens of 7 months old like mine have slowed down. its part of the egg laying cycle throughout the year.