Why won't my hen lay?

[Kadam]

I've seen several comments on this topic, but I don't know that the comments really apply to my situation. I've was recently given 4 Rhode Island Reds which are about a year old. 3 of them are still laying 6-7 eggs a week. One of them laid about 4-5 eggs the first week I had them and now for the last two weeks she hasn't laid any. The last egg she laid was kind of rubbery and she ate it before I could get to it. I just saw some of the remnants she didn't eat. She's not laid an egg since that I know of. All four of them are in cages, as they also were in cages with their previous owners. The others have occasionally eaten eggs but we can see the yolk and white on the ground beneath them. There doesn't seem to be any evidence that she is eating her eggs. We've not seen her exhibiting any of the behavior or signs of laying like the others do. The hen in question is quite healthy, so I'm not sure why she's not laying. She doesn't appear to be molting either as there is no feather loss. Sunlight is not a problem as I'm located overseas where it is perpetual summerlike climate. Any suggestions?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Any change can cause them to stop laying. She is probably taking a break- I wouldn't worry about her health unless you see signs of illness.

Sometimes they take a break in laying. If she recently was given to you that in itself can explain the lack of laying since she is in a new coop!

It is great that the others are laying.

 

[Kadam]

Thank you for that little tip. I simply figured since the rest of them are laying she should be too. How long of a "break" should I give her before consider adding her to a pot of carrots and potatoes?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Thank you for that little tip. I simply figured since the rest of them are laying she should be too. How long of a "break" should I give her before consider adding her to a pot of carrots and potatoes?

You have a one year old RIR and that is a good laying breed. So you have a lot of time left for her peak laying. That is a very valuable bird you have there. Just make sure your nutrition is good (layer feed and not too much scratch), no lice/mites/worms, and so on. I would not be quick to cull such a bird if she was previously laying well.

There is also a good thread "why aren't my chickens laying here are your answers" or something like that...very long thread...may be informative.

Make sure they have adequate calcium also...that will help her start laying. Oyster shell flakes, etc.

 

[Kadam]

Thank you. I'll lok for that post. Another two weeks have gone by and still no eggs. Well, I tak that back. About a week and a half ago my brought in an egg and said it was from her. She's only eating Layer feed. She's in a cage and not on the ground, so worms shouldn't be an issue. In fact, the previous owners had her in a similar cage, so she's never been on the ground. Either she is laying quietly and eating them, or she just still isn't laying. I cannot find any evidence of egg yolk or eggwhite under her cage to indicate shes eating them, but the sawdust coudl be absorbing it.

 

[CrazyChickGirl]

That sounds like a sad life for her.

 

[bknappster]

We bought 5 Easter Eggers middle of August 2014. They previously were totally free-range and the seller said they were laying. I'm not sure of the age. They are in a coop and run but not free range so we know who is laying. The Easter Eggers are not. The seller said to give them a month and they'd start laying again. As of today (10.25.14), still no blue eggs. We don't think they have any worms or parasites. Any suggestions? Should it take them 2 months to start laying again? They are given 22% layer pellets, scratch feed occasionally and a banana or spinach. We have given vitamins in their water. We also give oyster shell.