Hey all,
I have an interesting problem I'd like to run by some more experienced chicken keepers to see your thoughts.
I have a small flock of 8; 3 hens, 4 pullets in lay, and one pullet not yet in lay (expected next month). The 4 pullets hatched in March and started laying in early August. They have been pretty regular, and I was averaging 3-4 per day from them. But one of them stopped laying on September 17th. She hasn't laid since then, I haven't heard her singing, and I rarely see her anywhere near the coop during the day. She was the first to lay, and was one of the more reliable pullets up to now, and I'm starting to get concerned. The others are still going strong, I'm getting 2-3 from them, and they don't appear to have any health problems.
My girls free range around my fenced yard most of the day, and have access to free choice laying ration and crushed oyster shell, so she is, or at least should be getting the proper nutrition. She is still acting like her normal self, and doesn't seem to be losing weight or feathers.
Originally, I thought that she had decided to hide a nest somewhere, but I've searched all over the yard and can't find a thing.
Any thoughts as to why she stopped laying?
Thanks for your input!
I have an interesting problem I'd like to run by some more experienced chicken keepers to see your thoughts.
I have a small flock of 8; 3 hens, 4 pullets in lay, and one pullet not yet in lay (expected next month). The 4 pullets hatched in March and started laying in early August. They have been pretty regular, and I was averaging 3-4 per day from them. But one of them stopped laying on September 17th. She hasn't laid since then, I haven't heard her singing, and I rarely see her anywhere near the coop during the day. She was the first to lay, and was one of the more reliable pullets up to now, and I'm starting to get concerned. The others are still going strong, I'm getting 2-3 from them, and they don't appear to have any health problems.
My girls free range around my fenced yard most of the day, and have access to free choice laying ration and crushed oyster shell, so she is, or at least should be getting the proper nutrition. She is still acting like her normal self, and doesn't seem to be losing weight or feathers.
Originally, I thought that she had decided to hide a nest somewhere, but I've searched all over the yard and can't find a thing.
Any thoughts as to why she stopped laying?
Thanks for your input!
