Why would Coco stop laying?

[BevLand]

I have a question - why do you think that Coco (Black Cochin about 18 months) has only laid one egg since Pretty (Easter Egger age unknown) started laying Oct 5th? This was the first egg of Pretty's

Pretty has laid 6 eggs in 7 days - Coco has lain one. Coco was laying about every other day, 4 a week. Nothing else has changed except Pretty is now laying. (I checked, Coco is not egg bound)

 

[izziebean]

Does she have access to any bushes or tall grass or a nice shady place in the garden or deck? Is there any way she is laying somewhere else now and hoarding them.. or rather saving them for when she goes broody?

 

[BevLand]

They are in a large run and coop, so she isn't out where she can hide them. I have just the 2 right now, adding another later this week.

She seems healthy, and is eating, just seems curious that she stopped as soon as the other started.

 

[aart]

18 months old...probably getting ready or has already started to molt.

 

[Happy Chooks]

18 months old...probably getting ready or has already started to molt.

Ditto.

 

[BevLand]

Thanks everyone - I went out after work today to black feathers all over the coop - Although she still looks pretty full I think Coco has started a molt.

 

[Frindizzle]

Thanks everyone - I went out after work today to black feathers all over the coop - Although she still looks pretty full I think Coco has started a molt.

That was going to be my guess. Hope she starts laying soon!

 

[pdirt]

My experience has been that once they start molting, I won't see egg from those hen(s) for two to three months. Also, some molts are real obvious with lots of feather loss and other molts she's only a few feathers... But the time frame is about the same.

 

[BevLand]

Thanks. Good information