Suddenly stopped laying!

[Jverdian]

I’m concerned about Dottie, my 9 month old Spotted Sussex. She started laying in October and produced about 5 lovely, cream-colored eggs per week. She eats Bar Ale feed with some fermented feed a few mornings a week and some snacks-not too many-consisting if kale, black oil sun flower seeds, mealworms and the like. There are crushed oyster shells out for extra calcium. She suddenly stopped laying a week ago. I thought they lay through the winter the first season and I also thought the Sussex was a winter layer. I’m worried something could be wrong. She looks fine and is eating. I’ve looked around (they aren’t free range so that’s not too difficult) and haven’t found a hidden egg stash. In addition to Dottie I have a Welsummer who is the same age and lays about 4 eggs weekly and an Easter Egger the same age who had not yet begun laying. Any ideas why Dottie might have stopped laying??

 

[AnimalGeek23]

If you live somewhere that gets cold in the winter, Dottie might've stopped laying because of the temperature. Some hens stop laying when it gets too cold, especially since now it's December. Provide her with enough warmth and calcium! Don't worry, when the weather gets warm she'll start laying again.

 

[sourland]

As long as she is otherwise acting normally, I would not worry. Apparently she has been impacted by the shortened daylight period. As daylight increases she will restart laying.

 

[Chickassan]

All chickens are different, you might have one that lays her whole first winter season or a spuratic layer like your girl. The whole they lay their whole first winter isn't a certainty for any breed.

 

[aart]

If you live somewhere that gets cold in the winter, Dottie might've stopped laying because of the temperature. Some hens stop laying when it gets too cold, especially since now it's December. Provide her with enough warmth and calcium! Don't worry, when the weather gets warm she'll start laying again.

Nothing to do with temperature
(unless it's really cold, like Negative F's for days on end, then maybe)....
....it's all about the length of day.

 

[AnimalGeek23]

Nothing to do with temperature
(unless it's really cold, like Negative F's for days on end, then maybe)....
....it's all about the length of day.