Each yard chicken keeper has seasoned it: someday, your hens are laying reliably, and another, the nesting boxes are mysteriously vacant. Based on Gail Damerow, renowned poultry skilled and writer of Storey’s Information to Increasing Chickens, this egg-laying pause is often not a mystery at all. You will find very clear, organic causes hens quit laying, and knowing them can assist you assist your flock and restore productiveness. Allow me to share Damerow’s best 5 good reasons hens end laying—and what you can do about them.

one. Molting: A Normal Pause
As Damerow describes, molting is a annually function inside a hen’s life, ordinarily taking place in late summer time to early tumble. For the duration of this time, hens shed and regrow feathers—a system that requires an amazing number of Vitality and protein. Egg output typically stops during this era, as the hen's human body focuses solely on feather regeneration.

What You Can Do: Guidance your hens using a superior-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Stay away from stressing the flock and Permit nature get its class. Once the molt is comprehensive, egg-laying should progressively resume.

two. Shortened Daylight Several hours
Light exposure plays an important purpose in stimulating a hen’s reproductive system. Damerow points out that hens need to have fourteen–sixteen several hours of daylight for constant laying. As daylight decreases in the fall and Winter season months, so does egg creation.

What You are able to do: Take into consideration adding a light source inside the coop by using a timer to simulate pure daylight. A small-wattage bulb turning on in the early morning can safely extend "daylight" and assistance winter laying. Steer clear of sudden lights changes Which may Fun88 Casino worry your birds.

three. Lousy Nourishment
Diet is foundational to egg creation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet lacking in protein, calcium, or essential natural vitamins may result in much less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, when exciting, can dilute the balanced nutrition furnished by industrial layer feed.

What You Can Do: Ensure 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 plan.

four. Pressure and Environmental Elements
Tension is An important contributor to lowered egg manufacturing. Based on Damerow, stressors can involve predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Excessive temperatures, or perhaps transferring the coop. Hens are sensitive to alter and will react by halting egg output.

What You Can Do: Develop a calm, Risk-free environment in your birds. Maintain reliable routines, offer sufficient House, and address sources of strain like loud noises or intense flockmates.

five. Age and Health concerns
Damerow reminds us that laying isn't really a lifelong endeavor. Most hens start off laying around 5–6 months of age, peak at about 1–2 yrs, and after that slowly decelerate. Health issues, parasites, and reproductive problems could also interfere with laying.

What You are able to do: Control your hens’ In general well being. Conduct standard parasite checks, retain a clean up coop, and consult a vet in the event you recognize signs of disease. Older hens may still be useful associates in the flock whether or not their laying days are driving them.

Ultimate Ideas
As Gail Damerow frequently says, “Chickens don’t just quit laying for no purpose.” In case your hens take 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 may help information your flock back to healthy egg output—or simply value the natural rhythms in their lives.