Young hen hasn't laid an egg in 4 days?

[dlbaugh]

I am new to raising chickens, so I may be worrying too much, but I have a young hen that has not laid an egg in 4 days. She is a Buff Orpington and is about 8 months old. She started laying in July and has been a very regular layer. She spends a lot of time in the nesting box, so I thought she might be broody, but is she too young for that? There are no obvious signs of distress or illness and when I make her get out of the nesting box, she runs around normally with the other chickens. I have seen her eating and drinking, so that is not the problem. Any thoughts or advice?

 

[HollowOfWisps]

I am new to raising chickens, so I may be worrying too much, but I have a young hen that has not laid an egg in 4 days. She is a Buff Orpington and is about 8 months old. She started laying in July and has been a very regular layer. She spends a lot of time in the nesting box, so I thought she might be broody, but is she too young for that? There are no obvious signs of distress or illness and when I make her get out of the nesting box, she runs around normally with the other chickens. I have seen her eating and drinking, so that is not the problem. Any thoughts or advice?

As the amount of daylight gets shorter they tend to lay less. A lot of hens are slowing down right now.

 

[LizzzyJo]

When you get her out of the box, does she puff up and growl? Likely nothing worrying. Molt, daylight, or just a glitch.

 

[dlbaugh]

When you get her out of the box, does she puff up and growl? Likely nothing worrying. Molt, daylight, or just a glitch.

She puffs up a little, but doesn't growl and doesn't try to peck me or anything.

 

[dlbaugh]

As the amount of daylight gets shorter they tend to lay less. A lot of hens are slowing down right now.

I thought that might be the case, but all of my others are still laying?

 

[LizzzyJo]

If she's puffy she's probably broody. 8 months is not too young. If you want chicks and have a source for fertilized eggs, you could lean into it. It's an amazing process. Just be prepared if she decides she doesn't want the responsibility of motherhood halfway through the process

 

[picklestheduck]

I'm sorta new to raising chickens too, but occasionally my hens will skip a day, or my hen Linda is famous for hiding her eggs. Any way your hen is laying somewhere you dont check?

 

[dlbaugh]

I'm sorta new to raising chickens too, but occasionally my hens will skip a day, or my hen Linda is famous for hiding her eggs. Any way your hen is laying somewhere you dont check?

They don't free range, so their places to lay are limited. The have an enclosed chicken yard they can roam in during the day, but there really isn't any place I wouldn't see an egg. I looked to make sure!

 

[rosemarythyme]

She may be thinking about going broody but hasn't committed, so I would not attempt to hatch (if you were thinking about that) unless she actually sets for a couple of days.

Or she could just be a nest box lounger and is a bit off her laying schedule due to reduced daylight as days shorten in fall.