Stopped Laying-- Long story

[MommaKnows]

Hi. I have kept chickens for over ten years. I've moved and currently live in a neighborhood with an HOA, so I cut my flock down to just two. My current two ladies, an Easter Egger and a Barred Rock, were hatched in 2/23 and started laying late summer last year. End of August last year, my EE went broody, which I thought was odd because I've had EEs many times and they've never been the ones to do that! But anyway, the EE was broody and the BR wasn't. The BR, though, decided to go on a sympathy pause-- that's the best I can describe it. She wasn't broody, spent most of her time foraging in the yard, etc, but just stopped laying about a week into my EE's broodiness. Prior to this, both had been laying daily. My EE was stubborn and I tried so many different things to break her broodiness, none of which worked. She finally came out of it after about 7 weeks. Then she molted, as did the BR.

My EE started laying again in February of this year. The BR never did. Not one egg since she stopped just over a year ago. She's healthy and happy, eating fine, not egg bound, comb is nice and red, no parasites, not acting sick or stressed at all. Also, I have searched every inch of my yard and garden, where she has access. There are no hidden egg deposits anywhere, and she can't get out of the yard.

Currently, she has been molting for the past couple of weeks. I've bumped up their protein to help with this as I expect my EE to follow suit fairly soon, and I'm HOPING the BR just comes out of the molt and starts laying again. HAS ANYONE HEARD OF A CHICKEN DOING THIS???? It's the weirdest thing. I've had dozens of chickens over the years and this was the first time a non-broody hen ever did this. She wasn't even a year old when it started. She should have a couple of egg laying years ahead of her. Also, I'm in the Inland Northwest. Fall is here and winter is probably two weeks away. We do not supplement light. I like to give my girls a break if they need it in the winter. I'd just really like some input.

 

[tlcmurphy]

One of my 2 BOs laid nearly everyday from 5 months to 15 months old, then just stopped. It was summer, no molting, no brooding just no eggs for no reason. Now 2 years later she lays maybe 2 eggs a year, just to keep me guessing. Perfectly healthy otherwise, just doesn’t pay the rent!

 

[aart]

Also, I have searched every inch of my yard and garden, where she has access.

Time for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then.....just because you can't find a nest, doesn't mean they are not laying out there.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

 

[MommaKnows]

Time for an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then.....just because you can't find a nest, doesn't mean they are not laying out there.
Free range birds sometimes need to be 'trained'(or re-trained) to lay in the coop nests, especially new layers. Leaving them locked in the coop/run for a week or so can help 'home' them to lay in the coop nests. Fake eggs/golf balls in the nests can help 'show' them were to lay. They can be confined to coop and maybe run 24/7 for a few days to a week, provided you have adequate space and ventilation, or confine them at least until mid to late afternoon. You help them create a new habit and they will usually stick with it. ..at least for a good while, then repeat as necessary.

I have already locked them in for a week. Her sister has been laying again since February. She has not. No eggs from my BR girl. She lays brown and my EE lays blue, so there is no mistaking their eggs. This is why I'm at such a loss. It is the strangest thing. And no, there is no hiding places in my yard for eggs. No bushes to go under. Just mowed green grass, gravel around my raised garden beds, river rock in the side bedding areas. My raspberries are kept thinned with no hiding places there either. She has nowhere to hide them. I will do the butt check when she's finished molting though. Thank you for that. Hopefully I'll be able to tell.