Each backyard hen keeper has seasoned it: one day, your hens are laying reliably, and the following, the nesting packing containers are mysteriously empty. According to Gail Damerow, renowned poultry qualified and author of Storey’s Guideline to Elevating Chickens, this egg-laying pause is usually not a mystery in the least. There are crystal clear, purely natural reasons hens quit laying, and knowledge them may help you aid your flock and restore efficiency. Here i will discuss Damerow’s best 5 reasons hens stop laying—and what you can do about them.
one. Molting: A Pure Pause
As Damerow describes, molting is really a annually party in a hen’s everyday living, commonly taking place in late summer to early tumble. In the course of this time, hens shed and regrow feathers—a system that requires an amazing level of Vitality and protein. Egg manufacturing often stops for the duration of this period, as being the hen's body focuses completely on feather regeneration.
What You Can Do: Assist your hens with a large-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Steer clear of stressing the flock and Allow character just take its system. After the molt is full, egg-laying must little by little resume.
2. Shortened Daylight Hours
Light-weight publicity plays a vital function in stimulating a hen’s reproductive method. Damerow points out that hens need fourteen–sixteen hours of daylight for constant laying. As daylight decreases in the autumn and winter months, so does egg production.
What You Can Do: Consider introducing a light-weight source in the coop by using a timer to simulate all-natural daylight. A very low-wattage bulb turning on while in the early early morning can safely and securely extend "daylight" and assist winter laying. Stay clear of sudden lights changes that might tension your birds.
3. Poor Nourishment
Nourishment is foundational to egg generation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a food plan missing in protein, calcium, or necessary nutritional vitamins may result in less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, although enjoyable, can dilute the balanced nourishment furnished by professional layer feed.
What You are able to do: Guarantee your flock has regular usage of significant-high-quality layer feed, clean h2o, and calcium supplements like crushed oyster shell. Restrict treats to not more than ten% of their daily eating plan.
4. Strain and Environmental Variables
Tension is An important contributor to lowered egg manufacturing. In accordance with Damerow, stressors can involve predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Excessive temperatures, or perhaps going the coop. Hens are sensitive to alter and can react by halting egg output.
What You Can Do: Produce a quiet, Protected environment for your personal birds. Sustain consistent routines, give enough Area, and handle resources of tension for example loud noises or intense flockmates.
five. Age and Health concerns
Damerow reminds us that laying isn't a lifelong endeavor. Most hens start laying close to 5–six months of age, peak at about one–two years, after which step by step decelerate. Health issues, parasites, and reproductive difficulties could also interfere with laying.
What You are able to do: Regulate your hens’ General overall health. Carry out normal parasite checks, maintain a clean up coop, and talk to a vet when you notice signs of illness. Older hens should be valuable members of the flock even when their laying days are behind them.
Final Thoughts
As Gail Damerow often suggests, “Chickens don’t just prevent Fun88 Casino laying for no reason.” If your hens have a split, it’s their means of signaling that anything within their surroundings or biology has shifted. With a little bit of observation, fantastic treatment, and many endurance, you may help tutorial your flock back again to balanced egg production—or just value the organic rhythms of their life.