Why have my 2yr old hens stopped laying?

[StinkyAcres]

Hard to tell since they mostly drop out in the run, but I will start paying closer attention in the coop. I've tried checking their crops but have a hard time telling what's normal. They feel the same as our younger hens, one of them being slightly softer/mushier.

So feel their crops in the evening when they go to bed, then feel them in the early morning. The crops should be full in the evening and empty in the morning. If they are full in the morning then they have crop issues.

 

[Chrugger]

So feel their crops in the evening when they go to bed, then feel them in the early morning. The crops should be full in the evening and empty in the morning. If they are full in the morning then they have crop issues.

Seems like 1 out of the 3 may have an impacted crop. I separated her from the rest and gave her some olive oil and attempted to massage her crop some yesterday. Didn't seem to make much of a difference today, but I'll try to keep it up for a few days. It's pretty hard though, so not sure it'll work.

 

[TX Chick Noob]

How is your hen with the impacted crop doing? If the issue hasn’t resolved there are some people we can tag to help you with the issue. I had a pullet that it wouldn’t resolve and she had to have crop surgery. She is doing much better now.

 

[Chrugger]

Can someone help me figure out why only my 2 year old hens stopped laying? I have 3 hens (2 years old) that completely stopped laying about 4-6 months ago. I also have 9 younger hens (8 months) that are all laying just fine. 12 hens total, none acting weird/lethargic, healthy looking comb, eating normal, have easy access to clean water and food. They stay in a large coop (converted shed), 6 nesting boxes, and have a large run (1000is sqft) and free range outside their run daily when we're out with them. They spend the vast majority (90%) of their time in their run and I regularly check for other nesting areas. They were moved into the shed from a smaller coop about 9 months ago, which they laid in for a little while without much coercion. We did lose a hen from that original 2 year old group earlier this year to an unknown illness, and I feel like that could have been when they all stopped? Again, the younger hens are laying just fine and all 12 seem very healthy and happy.

Thanks for the help!

Just wanted to post an update to anyone that was following the convo since I thought this was so bizarre. Last week we got a cold front with rain and the auto door to my coop froze open and a raccoon got in and got 3 of my chickens. The day after, one of my chickens that hasn't laid in probably 8 months, the one with the impacted crop, starting laying again. Not really sure what to make of that.

 

[Mrs. K]

Laying is more genetic than anything. I would expect the one that started laying to lay erratically from here on out. She may lay well for a couple of weeks and then quit again.

I don't think there is anything you can do about it. Except replace her with a younger bird.

Mrs K

 

[Wot The Flock]

Last week we got a cold front with rain and the auto door to my coop froze open and a raccoon got in and got 3 of my chickens.

One reason I would not have an automatic door. The other being late stragglers not getting in. I also have heard that some doors have come down on chicken's necks and killed them.