Red Stars have stopped laying. Why?

[cowman1970]

Is anyone here familiar with Red Stars? I have 5 that abruptly stopped laying about a month ago. They aren't even molting. They share an area with other chickens that still lay on a regular basis and they all get the same nutrition. I have noticed in the past month at the auction barns there have been a pile of them being sold. Maybe others are having the same problem?

 

[yinzerchick]

How old are they? I have about 15 of them and they're my best layers! I hope they don't decide to stop!

 

[cowman1970]

I'm not sure. I would imagine less than a year. I bought 6 for $3 around the beginning of June. They were laying like crazy until mid-August then they stopped. I did find 1 about 10 minutes ago. I think it is kind of ironic that I've been seeing the birds like crazy at the auction barns.

 

[yinzerchick]

I don't know...I have some that are 6 months and some that are 18 months and they're all laying. Molting maybe?

 

[cowman1970]

No, they aren't molting. I'm not sure what is going on with them. Since I found one today I hope the start laying again.