Chicken bald back

[freckleface]

I have an Amber White (Lara),who is 16 months old, she has always been an 'odd' layer. A lot of double yolkers for the first few months, then quite a lot of softies and normal eggs. About 3 months ago she didn't seem herself, so took her to the vet, who said she seemed fine and could feel an egg, and I should probably worm her. That day she laid an egg, and was her normal chirpy self after. Since then she hasn't laid a single egg. She is eating, drinking, scratching around and generally being chickenlike.

 

We added a couple of 4 month old pullets just over a week ago, who are all laying, as is the other Amber. Since the new ones arrived Lara goes into the nesting box every morning as if to lay, but nothing. I have given her a good check over today. She does not have a sqidgey or swollen abdomen, her poo is normal, her comb is a lovely red colour, she is walking normally, and she is eating and drinking normal.

 

Do you think she has just stopped laying, do they ever stop at such an early age?

Has anyone experienced this before?

 

Thanks.

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Yup, I've had that in more than one hen . I think it's quite likely that lots of us have freeloaders. I can't ever work out why, once I've eliminated the obvious possiblities, so I just let them continue to potter about pretending to lay and probably assuming I haven't noticed .

[Olly]

I agree with ANH - it's young to stop laying, but sometimes it just happens. If she's healthy then there's probably no treatable cause, you've just got a hen who's taken early retirement!

[jimnpaula]

It may be that she's not stopped laying, just that she's having an 'extended rest' and will lay again next year for a short season.

My 5 year old Skyline and my dodgy-cream-legbar-who-lays-white-eggs like to take these long rests but their eggs are worth the wait. Plus they don't wear themselves out which would help them live longer.

 

Having said that, Crystal "The Enforcer" light Sussex hen laid a bit when she was young then never laid again! But held onto second in command position despite this.

 

At the moment I'm getting 2-3 eggs a day if lucky from 8 hens!

[freckleface]

Thank for your responses. That makes me feel better.

She is top of the pecking order and a lovely hen. I don't mind a freeloader. She is having a bit of a sunbathe at the moment!