Young chicken laid one egg and stopped?

[jcdvt]

I have four chickens. They were born 2/18 and 2/22 of 2025. Three of the chickens are laying and laying consistently and have been for over a month (1 Black Australorp, 1 Olive Egger, and 1 Ameracauna). The 4th one (another Ameracauna) laid 1 egg about 2 weeks ago, and has not laid one since. Is this normal in a young chicken to go this many weeks after their first egg to not lay if she isn't broody? I would just assume she is a late bloomer if she hadn't laid one already. I'm just wondering if someone is getting some free room and board out of me and not paying up. (FYI - I've searched my whole backyard - she is not hiding them anywhere. There are limited places she could). Thanks for any insight!

 

[Mrs. K]

Look for a hidden nest. Being late to the party, she may not feel confident laying in the nests with the others.

 

[jcdvt]

Look for a hidden nest. Being late to the party, she may not feel confident laying in the nests with the others.

There is literally nowhere I haven’t looked that she could have laid them. I’ve looked under my shed, in my blueberry bushes, even in a potted Japanese Maple and a Fig Bush. She’s either the best hider on the planet or is just not laying.

 

[DSJMHenDen]

I have one that has done that as well. My girls don't free range, so there aren't too many places to hide a nest. She keeps going in the nesting box but alas, no egg after her first one. I have questioned whether it was her, but I have a camera in the coop (yes I watch my chickens...a lot ), and I feel sure it was her. I read a thread some where on here that said their new layer took a 15 day break I think? So I'm just crossing my fingers nothing is wrong with her, but she seems to be doing fine otherwise. I continue to impatiently wait. Hopefully all goes well with your new layer as well.

 

[jcdvt]

I have one that has done that as well. My girls don't free range, so there aren't too many places to hide a nest. She keeps going in the nesting box but alas, no egg after her first one. I have questioned whether it was her, but I have a camera in the coop (yes I watch my chickens...a lot ), and I feel sure it was her. I read a thread some where on here that said their new layer took a 15 day break I think? So I'm just crossing my fingers nothing is wrong with her, but she seems to be doing fine otherwise. I continue to impatiently wait. Hopefully all goes well with your new layer as well.

Good to know! I caught her sitting on the Australorp’s egg one day, but she isn’t staying in there any amount of time, so I really don’t think she’s broody. Hoping she’s just not as hormonally developed as the other 3. I got one tiny blue egg the first time. Hers is the top left.

 

[DSJMHenDen]

Has your girl laid another egg? Mine still hasn't and seems to be showing a slow decline like the jersey giant we had that never laid an egg and passed away in February

 

[jcdvt]

So I just checked my coop- and the non laying chicken and a laying chicken are sitting in the nesting box together? Maybe she is broody? Is this normal

 

[rosemarythyme]

So I just checked my coop- and the non laying chicken and a laying chicken are sitting in the nesting box together? Maybe she is broody? Is this normal

Normal in some flocks, not in others (mine won't share boxes, many flocks will).

She might be thinking of going broody, or she might be thinking of laying (even if her body isn't cooperating), but her stuffing into a nest with another bird is not a sign of broodiness in and of itself.

 

[jcdvt]

Normal in some flocks, not in others (mine won't share boxes, many flocks will).

She might be thinking of going broody, or she might be thinking of laying (even if her body isn't cooperating), but her stuffing into a nest with another bird is not a sign of broodiness in and of itself.

Good to know- she was cracking me up because I thought she almost was acting like a midwife- even putting her wing around the laying hen right before she laid the egg. Then left and was making noises like she was the one that laid it!

 

[rosemarythyme]

Good to know- she was cracking me up because I thought she almost was acting like a midwife- even putting her wing around the laying hen right before she laid the egg. Then left and was making noises like she was the one that laid it!

I have an older hen that doesn't lay (but still goes broody) that likes to take credit for others' eggs. Too bad for her, I'm not so easily fooled!