Why has my hen stopped laying?

[Hishigata]

My hen Pumpkin is a feed store purchased Golden Laced Wyandotte. She is 8 months old and started laying on Easter day. She laid regularly (every other day from March until June). On June 25th, she laid her last egg and has not laid since. She seems healthy. She is active and seems to be holding her weight. However, her interest in food is lower than the other chickens and sometimes she just watches them eat. Eventually she eats too but it is always after the other girls. She is lower in the pecking order but I rarely see her bullied. I have been adding meal worms, yogurt, and crushed shell to their feed hoping to increase her appetite. This helps a little. I set out multiple food dishes so she will not have to compete but that does not help much either.

It has also been warm recently. I live in Texas and while this summer is mild for us, it is regularly in the mid 90's with a few days already breaking 100. The girls are free range and I keep water with ice and a little ACV around the yard which I change multiple times a day. Pumpkin still dust bathes, sun bathes, and otherwise behaves normally. I have checked her for mites and other pests, but she looks fine. Also no hard lumps in her abdomen to indicate an egg is stuck.

Any ideas as to the problem? What can I do to get her back to a happy and productive hen?

Many Thanks!

 

[jenifry]

Is she starting to molt? I know some of my hens shut down when they molt, and don't go back to laying until they have re-feathered.

 

[ihavechickens]

Have you recently moved her to a different a pen because she will need time to settle in and won't lay till she is. How long have you had her because most hens stop laying after 2 years.

 

[Angelicisi]

These are 1st year hens, probably molting like mine, my egg production slowed dramatically with the high heat and then they took turns molting lol just getting back to them laying again and two more yet to molt.

Hens do not stop laying at 2 years. In many breeds egg productions drops between 24 and 36 months but by less than 25% usually. So in commercial set ups they often rotate stock between 18 and 24 months of age to keep maximum production flowing, but in a backyard flock they'll lay for 5 to 7 years. On occassion taking longer molting breaks (6 month breaks in 5 year old hens are common) tho they will drop eggs into old age.

 

[Hishigata]

She has not moved pens recently. She was moved outside with the big girls in the winter and started laying in March. She is now 7 months old which seems a bit young to stop laying but a reasonable age for a molt. She is not losing feathers but it is quite hot so perhaps her breed is just less heat tolerant and stops egg production as a result. Here's to hoping. Thanks for the advice!

 

[jenifry]

My dad has a faithful 5 year old hen, his only white layer, who lays 3-4 times a week. A substantial difference from her 7 egg a week prime, but she sure didn't stop laying at two years.

 

[daneblackburn]

I had chickens at my parents house and they all came from mcmurray hatchery and I don't remember any of them quiting at 2 years, but that was almost 20 years ago too.