Sad chickens won't lay?

[Lelilamom]

On Mother's day, we lost one of our precious girls, only 15 mos old, and one of our star layers. I cried my eyes out while we buried her. The 5 remaining chickens have been calling her every morning since. They stopped laying altogether for 2 days, then 3 started up again. The other 2 are not laying.

2 weeks ago we added 13 young (10 wk old) chickens to the flock after a 2 week introduction through free range / fencing. The big girls keep them away from the food in the morning, until they've had enough. They are sharing the roosting bar.

Any advice on the chickens that aren't laying? Is it unhealthy for them? Are they sad they lost one of their friends or mad that there are interlopers in the run?

 

[chooks4life]

If they lost their flockmate due to stressful circumstances, the shock can put them off the lay. Kelp starts even old hens laying again, but be careful feeding it in conjunction with 'complete' feeds.

 

[realsis]

I have a pullet that stopped laying for two months when I first got her because of her new home and surroundings . now she lays every day to every other day like clock work. sometimes when there is a change or introduction of a new bird or birds they stop. I was beginning to worry for my pullet when she did this too but turns out she is very healthy thank God. its just the stress that caused them to stop and when they are comfortable again they will start laying again. hopefully you won't have to wait as long as I did. I'm sure they will be fine and start back up laying soon. hope this helps. best wishes