Just about every backyard rooster keeper has seasoned it: someday, your hens are laying reliably, and the next, 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 frequently not a thriller in any way. You can find crystal clear, pure good reasons hens halt laying, and knowledge them may help you assist your flock and restore productivity. Listed here are Damerow’s leading 5 good reasons hens end laying—and what you can do about them.
one. Molting: A Normal Pause
As Damerow describes, molting is really a annually function inside a hen’s life, commonly developing in late summertime to early fall. All through this time, hens eliminate and regrow feathers—a method that needs an incredible amount of Electricity and protein. Egg creation often stops through this period, since the hen's physique focuses fully on feather regeneration.
What You are able to do: Help your hens with a substantial-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Avoid stressing the flock and Allow mother nature consider its system. As soon as the molt is full, egg-laying really should steadily resume.
2. Shortened Daylight Hrs
Gentle publicity performs a vital part in stimulating a hen’s reproductive process. Damerow details out that hens require 14–sixteen hrs of daylight for dependable laying. As daylight decreases in the fall and winter months, so does egg manufacturing.
What You Can Do: Look at introducing a lightweight resource within the coop using a timer to simulate normal daylight. A small-wattage bulb turning on in the early early morning can safely extend "daylight" and support winter laying. Steer clear of sudden lights changes Which may worry your birds.
three. Weak Nourishment
Diet is foundational to egg creation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet regime lacking in Fun88 Casino protein, calcium, or crucial vitamins can result in much less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, when pleasurable, can dilute the balanced nutrition furnished by business layer feed.
What You Can Do: Make sure your flock has constant usage of significant-good quality layer feed, clean water, and calcium nutritional supplements like crushed oyster shell. Restrict treats to no more than ten% of their day by day eating plan.
4. Stress and Environmental Components
Anxiety is a major contributor to diminished egg manufacturing. According to Damerow, stressors can include things like predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Severe temperatures, or even transferring the coop. Hens are sensitive to alter and will react by halting egg output.
What You Can Do: Develop a calm, Risk-free atmosphere in your birds. Maintain reliable routines, offer sufficient House, and address sources of strain like loud noises or aggressive flockmates.
five. Age and Health concerns
Damerow reminds us that laying is not a lifelong endeavor. Most hens start off laying about 5–6 months of age, peak at about 1–two decades, and then progressively decelerate. Ailment, parasites, and reproductive issues also can interfere with laying.
What You Can Do: Control your hens’ overall health. Perform frequent parasite checks, maintain a thoroughly clean coop, and check with a vet when you detect indications of ailment. More mature hens should still be precious customers with the flock although their laying times are guiding them.
Closing Feelings
As Gail Damerow typically states, “Chickens don’t just cease laying for no cause.” Should your hens take a crack, it’s their technique for signaling that a little something inside their natural environment or biology has shifted. With a little observation, very good care, and some tolerance, you may help tutorial your flock back again to wholesome egg production—or just enjoy the all-natural rhythms in their lives.