Just about every backyard rooster keeper has experienced it: at some point, your hens are laying reliably, and the following, the nesting containers are mysteriously empty. In keeping with Gail Damerow, renowned poultry pro and creator of Storey’s Guideline to Boosting Chickens, this egg-laying pause is frequently not a thriller in the least. You will discover apparent, purely natural explanations hens prevent laying, and being familiar with them will let you guidance your flock and restore productiveness. Allow me to share Damerow’s best five explanations hens halt laying—and what you can do about them.
one. Molting: A Pure Pause
As Damerow describes, molting is really a annually celebration within a hen’s lifestyle, typically transpiring in late summer season to early fall. Through this time, hens drop and regrow feathers—a process that requires a huge quantity of Electrical power and protein. Egg creation often stops through this period, as being the hen's physique focuses fully on feather regeneration.
What You Can Do: Assist your hens with a substantial-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Avoid stressing the flock and Allow mother nature take its system. As soon as the molt is total, egg-laying really should steadily resume.
2. Shortened Daylight Hrs
Light-weight publicity plays a vital position in stimulating a hen’s reproductive procedure. Damerow points out that hens want 14–sixteen hrs of daylight for dependable laying. As daylight decreases in the autumn and winter months, so does egg manufacturing.
What You Can Do: Take into account introducing a lightweight source inside the coop that has a timer to simulate purely natural daylight. A low-wattage bulb turning on within the early morning can safely extend "daylight" and help winter laying. Stay away from sudden lighting modifications that might tension your birds.
3. Poor Nourishment
Nourishment is foundational to egg generation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a eating plan missing in protein, calcium, or vital nutritional vitamins can lead to fewer or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, while fun, can dilute the well balanced diet provided by commercial layer feed.
What You are able to do: Guarantee your flock has consistent entry to high-high-quality layer feed, cleanse drinking water, and calcium dietary supplements like crushed oyster shell. Restrict treats to no more than ten% of their every day diet.
four. Anxiety and Environmental Aspects
Strain is A significant contributor to lessened egg generation. In accordance with Damerow, stressors can include predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Serious temperatures, and even moving the coop. Hens are sensitive to vary and may respond by halting egg production.
What You are able to do: Create a calm, Harmless setting for your birds. Keep consistent routines, give enough Area, and tackle resources of tension for instance loud noises or intense flockmates.
5. Age and Medical issues
Damerow reminds us that laying is just not a lifelong endeavor. Most hens commence laying all over five–6 months of age, peak at about 1–2 several years, after which you can progressively slow down. Ailment, Fun88 Casino parasites, and reproductive issues may also interfere with laying.
What You Can Do: Control your hens’ Over-all health. Conduct typical parasite checks, keep a cleanse coop, and consult with a vet if you discover signs of sickness. Older hens may still be important associates of the flock even though their laying days are powering them.
Last Thoughts
As Gail Damerow frequently says, “Chickens don’t just stop laying for no reason.” In case your hens have a crack, it’s their strategy for signaling that a thing inside their setting or biology has shifted. With some observation, excellent care, plus some tolerance, you can assist information your flock back to healthy egg output—or simply value the natural rhythms in their lives.