Every single backyard chicken keeper has skilled it: in the future, your hens are laying reliably, and another, the nesting boxes are mysteriously empty. In accordance with Gail Damerow, renowned poultry pro and creator of Storey’s Guideline to Boosting Chickens, this egg-laying pause is commonly not a thriller in the least. There are actually apparent, natural explanations hens prevent laying, and being familiar with them will let you aid your flock and restore efficiency. Here's Damerow’s prime five reasons hens prevent laying—and what you are able to do about them.
1. Molting: A Purely natural Pause
As Damerow points out, molting can be a yearly celebration in the hen’s existence, typically transpiring in late summer season to early fall. Through this time, hens lose and regrow feathers—a course of action that requires an amazing level of energy and protein. Egg generation usually stops during this period, given that the hen's entire body focuses solely on feather regeneration.
What You Can Do: Guidance your hens having a superior-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Stay away from stressing the flock and Enable nature just take its class. After 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 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 creation.
What You Can Do: Take into consideration adding a light source while in the coop that has a timer to simulate purely natural daylight. A low-wattage bulb turning on inside the early morning can securely lengthen "daylight" and help Winter season laying. Keep away from sudden lighting modifications that might tension your birds.
3. Poor Nutrition
Nourishment is foundational to egg output. Damerow Fun88 Casino warns that feeding chickens a food plan missing in protein, calcium, or necessary nutritional vitamins may end up in fewer or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, whilst enjoyable, can dilute the well balanced diet supplied by commercial layer feed.
What You are able to do: Assure your flock has frequent entry to large-high quality layer feed, clean up drinking water, and calcium dietary supplements like crushed oyster shell. Limit treats to not more than 10% in their day-to-day diet regime.
4. Tension and Environmental Things
Pressure 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 serene, safe setting for the birds. Retain consistent routines, present ample Room, and handle sources of anxiety which include loud noises or aggressive flockmates.
5. Age and Medical issues
Damerow reminds us that laying isn't a lifelong endeavor. Most hens get started laying all-around 5–6 months of age, peak at about 1–2 yrs, and then progressively decelerate. Health issues, parasites, and reproductive issues also can interfere with laying.
What You Can Do: Control your hens’ In general well being. Conduct typical parasite checks, keep a cleanse coop, and consult a vet in the event you recognize signs of health issues. Older hens may still be useful associates in the flock whether or not their laying days are driving them.
Ultimate Ideas
As Gail Damerow usually states, “Chickens don’t just quit laying for no purpose.” Should your hens take a crack, it’s their technique for signaling that a thing inside their setting or biology has shifted. With some observation, excellent care, and some tolerance, you can assist information your flock back to healthy egg output—or simply value the natural rhythms in their lives.