Every backyard chicken keeper has professional it: at some point, your hens are laying reliably, and the following, the nesting containers are mysteriously empty. As outlined by Gail Damerow, renowned poultry qualified and creator of Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, this egg-laying pause is commonly not a secret in the slightest degree. There are clear, all-natural reasons hens stop laying, and understanding them can help you support your flock and restore efficiency. Here i will discuss Damerow’s top rated five factors hens stop laying—and what you are able to do about them.
1. Molting: A Natural Pause
As Damerow clarifies, molting can be a yearly party in a very hen’s daily life, normally occurring in late summer months to early drop. Throughout this time, hens reduce and regrow feathers—a approach that requires a huge quantity of Electrical power and protein. Egg creation frequently stops all through this period, as being the hen's entire body focuses solely on feather regeneration.
What You Can Do: Assist your hens having a significant-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Steer clear of stressing the flock and Permit mother nature get its class. Once the molt is comprehensive, egg-laying should progressively resume.
two. Shortened Daylight Several hours
Light exposure plays an important job in stimulating a hen’s reproductive method. Damerow factors out that hens will need fourteen–sixteen hours of daylight for steady laying. As daylight decreases in the fall and Winter season months, so does egg generation.
What You are able to do: Think about including a light-weight supply while in the coop which has a timer to simulate natural daylight. A reduced-wattage bulb turning on inside the early morning can securely lengthen "daylight" and assist Winter season laying. Keep away from sudden lighting adjustments That may anxiety your birds.
3. Bad Nutrition
Nourishment is foundational to egg output. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet missing in protein, calcium, or necessary natural vitamins may lead to less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, although entertaining, can dilute the balanced nourishment supplied by industrial layer feed.
What You Can Do: Be certain your flock has regular use of substantial-top quality layer feed, clean h2o, and calcium health supplements like crushed oyster shell. Limit treats to not more than 10% in their day-to-day diet program.
four. Strain and Environmental Aspects
Tension is An important contributor to lowered egg production. In keeping with Damerow, stressors can incorporate predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Intense temperatures, or simply relocating the coop. Hens are delicate to alter Fun88 Casino and will react by halting egg generation.
What You Can Do: Develop a calm, Risk-free atmosphere in your birds. Preserve dependable routines, supply enough space, and deal with resources of stress for example loud noises or intense flockmates.
five. Age and Health problems
Damerow reminds us that laying just isn't a lifelong endeavor. Most hens begin laying all around five–six months of age, peak at about one–2 a long time, and afterwards steadily slow down. Disease, parasites, and reproductive challenges may also interfere with laying.
What You Can Do: Keep watch over your hens’ Over-all health. Conduct normal parasite checks, sustain a cleanse coop, and consult with a vet if you discover signs of sickness. Older hens may still be beneficial members from 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 anything within their setting or biology has shifted. With some observation, excellent care, plus some endurance, you can assist information your flock back to healthy egg output—or just enjoy the all-natural rhythms in their lives.