Welsummer not laying!

[Rainbirds]

I have an 1 1\2 year old welsummer that was laying daily after she came out of her moult. Now she has only layed 1 eggs in the past 7 days. She lays in the nest box every day, like she wants too, but nothing happens. She doesn't act sick, eats, runs around and everything so I don't think she's eggbound, but what could it be, she's been a consistent layer and if there is already an egg in the nest box she cuddles up with it, and only food will bring her out!

 

[mrchicks]

Give her a bit of time. Moulting is really hard on them, they are using all of their resources to grow feathers. She should be back to laying in a few weeks. As long as she's looking and acting healthy I wouldn't worry yet.

 

[Rainbirds]

thanks, but she has been laying for the past 2 months, it's just this last week,that's been nothing, so I'm not sure

 

[mrchicks]

Is it possible that she's going broody?

 

[aart]

Could be going broody...does she roost at night?

 

[Rainbirds]

Do they stop laying when they're going broody?
And yes she roosts at night.
When she is in the nest trying to lay or whatever she's doing, she talks to me when I look in, never did that before

 

[ChickieAnnD]

By talking, if you mean she makes a soft growly noise then she is broody and would love to hatch a clutch of eggs. If you are ready for that experience and have fertile eggs give her about 5 and let her set on them. You will loose her egg laying ability for about a month and while she cares for the chicks then she will go back to laying.

 

[aart]

From what I've read, you want to be sure she stays on the nest day and night for at least 3 days before declaring her officially broody and giving her fertile eggs.
Sometimes they stop laying even if they're not effectively broody.

 

[Rainbirds]

thanks for all the great info. After researching broody, I think she is. She only goes into the nest box during the day, but she won't leave unless I boot her out. Then she's mad!
So this morning, after everyone had laid for the day, I blocked her out of the coop. Now she's dug a hole in the dirt and laying in that
And no, it's not a growly noise, more of a coo!
So, I guess I'll keep barring her out for a few days. I miss her wonderful dark chocolate colored eggs

 

[15shenyl]

thanks for all the great info. After researching broody, I think she is. She only goes into the nest box during the day, but she won't leave unless I boot her out. Then she's mad!

So this morning, after everyone had laid for the day, I blocked her out of the coop. Now she's dug a hole in the dirt and laying in that

And no, it's not a growly noise, more of a coo!

So, I guess I'll keep barring her out for a few days. I miss her wonderful dark chocolate colored eggs

I really loved my Welsummer, I called her my gental giant because my folk has birds 2-4pounds and she was about 9 pounds. Sadly she died 3weeks ago, we don't know why, she started loosing her voice than two days later she was gone. She was normal too, so we really don't know. She never went broody like yours, I have a faverolle broody right now and she puffs up really big and hisses at me if I put my hand in her box. Just let her sit it out, theirs really nothing you can do about theat, I always let my girls just sit it out, it doesn't really bother me unless you,really want the eggs.