5 of my 9-month-old pullets quit laying back in October. They don't seem to be molting - no bare spots and not an unusual number of feathers in coop. They are 2 Ameraucanas, 2 Barred Rocks and 1 Gold Laced Wyandottes. I have 4 others that are the same age that are laying just fine. Also, I have 14 mixed hens 6 weeks younger who are all laying daily.
I would write it off to just going into winter, but they should be winter layers even if not still pullets. I do have lights on for 12 hours, not so much to force laying as to keep them from hurting themselves (or being scared) wandering around in the dark in the mornings. (I have 4 that start hopping down and going to nesting boxes or out into the (protected) run before 5 am.)
They don't appear to be sick. They run around the run, hop on and off perches and race for treats just like the others. I had decided to just wait them out, but then thought I'd better ask to make sure I don't have anything I should be worried about. The first one to quit laying went from laying every day to zero October 23rd... before it started getting really cold.
Worry - not worry??
I would write it off to just going into winter, but they should be winter layers even if not still pullets. I do have lights on for 12 hours, not so much to force laying as to keep them from hurting themselves (or being scared) wandering around in the dark in the mornings. (I have 4 that start hopping down and going to nesting boxes or out into the (protected) run before 5 am.)
They don't appear to be sick. They run around the run, hop on and off perches and race for treats just like the others. I had decided to just wait them out, but then thought I'd better ask to make sure I don't have anything I should be worried about. The first one to quit laying went from laying every day to zero October 23rd... before it started getting really cold.
Worry - not worry??
