[HRL]

Hi there,
We have 3 chooks, one is a blue (?loded) legbar - got her in Sept 2009 at about 16 weeks old and for the first year she laid a nice green egg every day.  In November 2010 she lost a lot of weight, looked like the other two chooks were bullying her, lost lots of fethers (esp round neck) and stopped laying.  I have used Verm-X and a tonic in their water.  Now she is looking very very healthy and strangley looks really really fat !  Even though her wings are clipped she manages to fly out their fenced area and she roosts elsewhere at night but happlily goes back in every morning. 

I have tried keeping her in a small cage for 3 nights to get her back in the coop and to see if she is laying but nothing !

Any thoughts anyone ?  Is it ususal to have such a long time off laying or could she be laying elsewhere at night/very early morning ?  I am a real amatuer so not sure if this is right as the other continue to lay daily. - any recommendations would be greatly received. 

Thanks, in advance,
Helen

[inchhighfly]

I'd say she was just moulting and was now having a rest before starting to lay again. Most of my pure breeds aren't laying at the moment but their combs are getting red again in anticipation. I would say she will start laying in the next month as long as she fit and well - have you wormed her?

[joyfull]

mine are just coming back into lay as well 
you say her wings are clipped - did you clip just one wing? Only one wing should be clipped as this will unbalance them thus preventing a chicken from flying too well. However if your are free ranging then I wouldn't wing clip at all this way they stand a better chance of getting out of the way should a predator come calling. I have 14 that roost high up in trees  . If yours has had a full moult then chances are her wing feathers will have grown back anyway.

[HRL]

Thanks very much inchhighfly & joyfull - your time in replying is much appreciated - I will stop worrying - she does look fit to burst so hopefully some eggs on the way 

Interesting re thought about feathers growing back and hence she is flying again - hadn't thought of that - will do as you say and clip one side perhaps although I have no worries about her roosting in the trees as long as she puts her eggs somewhere sensible !  Sprnt last year finding too many under pumpkin plants and other random spots !

Thanks again,
Helen

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

My Legbar insists on trying to roost outside every night (we lift her down and put her in the coop) but she always goes to lay her eggs in the nest box.

The night before she laid her first egg she did go in the coop of her own accord so we hoped she'd decided now she was a grown up she'd sleep with the other girls, but no, after that first night she was back outside, regardless of weather.  I've been out and got her when she's had snow on her back!

And yes, she does have just the one wing clipped.

[rachelr]

mine are the same the ones that fly will still fly even when there wings are clipped. They just dont fly too far thank god.

However, my neighbour is not happy cos they love her nice tidy garden lol

[Foghorn-Leghorn]

Lol, is that really a case of the grass been greener then?!   

[Casey76]

At this time of year... yes LOL!