Every single yard hen keeper has skilled it: sooner or later, your hens are laying reliably, and the following, the nesting containers are mysteriously empty. Based on Gail Damerow, renowned poultry expert and writer of Storey’s Guidebook to Raising Chickens, this egg-laying pause is frequently not a mystery in the least. You will find crystal clear, organic reasons hens halt laying, and knowledge them will help you aid your flock and restore productivity. Here i will discuss Damerow’s best 5 explanations hens quit laying—and what you can do about them.
one. Molting: A Normal Pause
As Damerow describes, molting can be a annually occasion inside a hen’s life, typically developing in late summer season to early fall. During this time, hens eliminate and regrow feathers—a method that needs a huge quantity of Electrical power and protein. Egg creation often stops through this period, as being the hen's physique focuses solely on feather regeneration.
What You Can Do: Guidance 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 finish, egg-laying should slowly resume.
two. Shortened Daylight Several hours
Light exposure plays an important job in stimulating a hen’s reproductive program. Damerow factors out that hens have to have fourteen–16 hours of daylight for steady laying. As daylight decreases in the autumn and Wintertime months, so does egg output.
What You Can Do: Contemplate incorporating a light-weight supply during the coop with a timer to simulate all-natural daylight. A minimal-wattage bulb turning on from the early early morning can safely and securely prolong "daylight" and guidance Wintertime laying. Stay clear of unexpected lights improvements Which may strain your birds.
three. Very poor Diet
Diet is foundational to egg creation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet program lacking in protein, calcium, or important vitamins can result in much less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, though pleasurable, can dilute the well balanced nutrition provided by professional layer feed.
What You are able to do: Make certain your flock has continual access to high-high-quality layer feed, cleanse drinking water, and calcium supplements like crushed oyster shell. Restrict treats to no more than ten% of their every day diet.
four. Tension and Environmental Factors
Strain is A significant contributor to decreased egg generation. In line with Damerow, stressors can consist of predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Extraordinary temperatures, as well as moving the coop. Hens are delicate to change and might respond by halting egg creation.
What You are able to do: Produce a tranquil, Secure ecosystem to your birds. Manage regular routines, provide ample Place, and address sources of strain like loud noises or aggressive flockmates.
five. Age and Health concerns
Damerow reminds us that laying isn't really a lifelong endeavor. Most hens start out laying about 5–six months of age, peak at about one–two years, after which step by step slow down. Sickness, parasites, and reproductive troubles may interfere with laying.
What You Can Do: Keep an eye on your hens’ All round wellbeing. Perform regular parasite checks, maintain a cleanse coop, and seek the advice of a vet in the event you see signs Fun88 Casino of health issues. Older hens should be worthwhile users from the flock although their laying days are driving them.
Remaining Thoughts
As Gail Damerow usually claims, “Chickens don’t just end laying for no rationale.” When your hens have a crack, it’s their technique for signaling that a little something of their setting or biology has shifted. With a certain amount of observation, good care, and a few persistence, you may help guide your flock again to balanced egg production—or simply recognize the pure rhythms of their lives.