Pullet started laying, then stopped-permanently.

[joletabey]

I have a black Orp pullet who laid 3 or 4 eggs a week for a month at 5 1/2 months old. She then quit and has not laid another egg for over a month. I checked for problems early on, but she seems fine - any ideas? DO pullets ever get a false start like that?

 

[sonew123]

Mine did that and I finally figured out what happened....My hen had just laid an egg and I left it there to get a carton- walking back to the coop I saw a rouge roo run into the nest box and make noise for a few minutes then come out about 10 minutes later with yolk on his face-I watched him do this to her eggs all weekend-He was Dinner Monday!

 

[joletabey]

Anybody else got any ideas? It seems to me she would be awfully young to have internal laying issues. Anybody else have this happen?

 

[turkeymom]

I'm really curious about this too. My EE laid wonderfully for about 6 weeks and then all of a sudden she stopped laying. It's only been a week or so, and I do know one of the roosters bothers her.
So, we're getting rid of the rooster and see if that helps.
I'm pretty sure no one is eating her eggs, though, b/c I left one of the other hen's eggs out all day and nobody bothered it.

Keep us posted!

Anyone else have this happen?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I've never had one do that, other than hiding a nest, so I am just guessing.

Is she hiding a nest on you? I don't know your set-up but this is the one I would really suspect.

I'll suggest an egg-eating predator. If hers are the only ones disappearing, this is not likely, but I'll mention it.

A disease or internal problem is always a possibility.

My wife once mentioned to never fail to ask an obvious question. Sometimes simple explains it. Is she molting? Sometimes they will molt due to stress. It does not always take the days getting shorter to cause a molt.

One last shot. Please don't hit me. Is she broody?

 

[joletabey]

Ridgerunner - you are funny!
No, she is not broody- there IS no place for a hidden nest unless she is rolling them under the coop when she is done, and none of the other eggs are pecked or bothered. She watches her best friend lay, like she is either inspecting that it is done correctly, or trying to remember how to do it herself. I am going to check and see if she if growing in feathers under all the fluff- there isn't much in the way of feathers floating around in her coop or run, but maybe she is slow and subtle? Thanks for the suggestions!