stopped laying

[CarolChambers]

I have 8 young hens (19 wks), one Rhode Island Red started laying last week. Very small eggs. She laid 5 then stopped. Is this normal? She free ranges so didn't know if she might be dropping the eggs elsewhere or that this might be usual for such a young hen to start then stop.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Normal. That doesn't mean she doesn't have a nest somewhere else.

I think it is important for us to remember that these aren't laying machines but a bird that feeds us breakfast. The same principles that apply to all young animals beginning to ovulate, applies to pullets.
A young girls cycle won't be every 28 days like clockwork. It will be very erratic.
It's not unusual, especially in the first 2 years to skip periods or to have an irregular menstrual cycle. Other life events like some stress will further alter things.
The same is true for onset of lay in pullets which could take a few months to get regular.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

It's not unusual. Many take time to find a rhythm and to work out the kinks in the system, others take right off and others have an up and down to their laying. Every hen is different and many things will cause halts through out the laying season, and for others they keep right on laying through everything.