White leghorn not laying

[cp641]

I have a white leghorn that is a year old, consistently laid about one egg a day, but hasn’t laid in about 3 weeks. We’re in New England, she laid pretty consistently in the winter and springtime weather is starting. We have four other hens that are laying normally. Her comb is a bit white at the end, she doesn’t show signs of mites. Plenty of protein available and plenty of free range time. Any insight? thanks!

 

[Yardmom]

It's not unusual for birds who laid all winter to take a break on egg laying for a bit in the spring.

 

[goats-n-oats]

It could just be that time of the year. Everyone I know in Ohio wasn't getting any eggs in February. Another post here suggested cooked lentils will give them the nutrients necessary to start laying again.
She might have an infection (salpingitis). Is her abdomen swollen? That is curable with antibiotics.

 

[goats-n-oats]

Thanks for the lentil tip. She doesn’t look swollen, is acting normal. We were out of town a couple weeks ago and came back to the coop full of her feathers. But that seems to have stopped and she doesn’t have bald spots or anything

She's a little young to be molting. Is it possible she was attacked, by a small rodent, and is stressed out?

 

[aart]

plenty of free range time

She may be laying out in the range area.
Might be good to do an exam:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/who-is-laying-and-who-is-not-butt-check.73309/

Then....
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.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

We were out of town a couple weeks ago and came back to the coop full of her feathers. But that seems to have stopped and she doesn’t have bald spots or anything

Not all molting creates bald spots.. and even mini molts can stop/delay laying. Birds don't appear to read our books about what they "should" do. This could be one possibility and should be a consideration.. of course the feathers stop in the coop, but the new ones may still be growing.. or waiting for or still working with the daylight return to raise the hormones again. I agree, it's just a natural break or there may be a hidden nest. The later being super common as soon as good weather starts here..

Now my 6-7 yo white leghorn is laying again after a 3 years of not laying. The timing corresponds perfectly. I wonder...?

I saw your other thread.. I've had many hens go years without laying and then return to lay.. that's the joy of keeping pets into old age, she would have been culled far sooner if production were in question in that type of facility which also reduces the information available to us (and the medical community) on aging fowl. Genetics and reproduction are not as simple as some lentils. Just look at how wacked human menopause is. (if your're not there then you don't know yet, ROAR!) Gotta love the timing though and then the synchronicity of this thread.. to start you on a curiosity adventure!

 

[cp641]

It could just be that time of the year. Everyone I know in Ohio wasn't getting any eggs in February. Another post here suggested cooked lentils will give them the nutrients necessary to start laying again.
She might have an infection (salpingitis). Is her abdomen swollen? That is curable with antibiotics.

Thanks for the lentil tip. She doesn’t look swollen, is acting normal. We were out of town a couple weeks ago and came back to the coop full of her feathers. But that seems to have stopped and she doesn’t have bald spots or anything

 

[nuthatched]

X3, she's either taking a well earned break or has a hidden nest somewhere.
Lentils or any food item will not start laying.

 

[caulichicken]

It could just be that time of the year. Everyone I know in Ohio wasn't getting any eggs in February. Another post here suggested cooked lentils will give them the nutrients necessary to start laying again.
She might have an infection (salpingitis). Is her abdomen swollen? That is curable with antibiotics.

Weird. I sprouted some green lentils and fermented some red lentils and fed them to my chickens. Now my 6-7 yo white leghorn is laying again after a 3 years of not laying. The timing corresponds perfectly. I wonder...?

 

[nuthatched]

Weird. I sprouted some green lentils and fermented some red lentils and fed them to my chickens. Now my 6-7 yo white leghorn is laying again after a 3 years of not laying. The timing corresponds perfectly. I wonder...?

There's no food that can make a chicken start laying, since laying is a product of hormone produced by the pituitary gland, which is activated by daylight length. Hormone therapy (I.e shots) is the only way influence you could have on laying.