Each yard hen keeper has knowledgeable it: in the future, your hens are laying reliably, and the subsequent, the nesting bins are mysteriously vacant. According to Gail Damerow, renowned poultry professional and author of Storey’s Manual to Raising Chickens, this egg-laying pause is often not a secret at all. There are distinct, all-natural reasons hens quit laying, and comprehending them will help you support your flock and restore efficiency. Here i will discuss Damerow’s top rated five factors hens stop laying—and what you are able to do about them.
1. Molting: A All-natural Pause
As Damerow clarifies, molting is often a yearly event inside of a hen’s lifetime, normally occurring in late summer months to early drop. Throughout this time, hens reduce and regrow feathers—a approach that requires a huge quantity of Electrical power and protein. Egg creation frequently stops through this period, as being the hen's physique focuses solely on feather regeneration.
What You Can Do: Assist your hens with a substantial-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Steer clear of stressing the flock and Permit mother nature consider its study course. Once the molt is full, egg-laying should really steadily resume.
2. Shortened Daylight Hrs
Light-weight exposure plays a vital position in stimulating a hen’s reproductive procedure. Damerow points out that hens want fourteen–sixteen several hours of daylight for consistent laying. As daylight decreases in the fall and winter months, so does egg creation.
What You Can Do: Look at introducing a light source within the coop using a timer to simulate normal daylight. A very low-wattage bulb turning on during the early early morning can properly increase "daylight" and aid Wintertime laying. Avoid unexpected lights variations Which may strain your birds.
three. Very poor Diet
Diet is foundational to egg manufacturing. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet program lacking in protein, calcium, or essential natural vitamins may result in much less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, even though exciting, can dilute the balanced nutrition furnished by business layer feed.
What You Can Do: Ensure your flock has constant usage of substantial-good quality layer feed, thoroughly clean h2o, and calcium health supplements like crushed oyster shell. Limit treats to not more than 10% in their day-to-day diet program.
four. Strain and Environmental Aspects
Stress is A serious contributor to reduced egg production. As outlined by Damerow, stressors can contain predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, extreme temperatures, or maybe shifting the coop. Hens are delicate to change Fun88 Casino and might respond by halting egg creation.
What You are able to do: Create a tranquil, Secure natural environment to your birds. Manage steady routines, deliver ample Room, and handle sources of pressure such as 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 several years, and then progressively decelerate. Ailment, parasites, and reproductive issues also can interfere with laying.
What You Can Do: Control your hens’ In general health. Conduct typical parasite checks, keep a cleanse coop, and consult with a vet if you discover signs of sickness. Older hens may still be beneficial members from the flock even though their laying days are behind them.
Last Thoughts
As Gail Damerow often says, “Chickens don’t just stop laying for no reason.” If your hens have a split, it’s their means of signaling that one thing within their atmosphere or biology has shifted. With a little bit of observation, great treatment, and many endurance, you will help manual your flock again to nutritious egg generation—or simply appreciate the purely natural rhythms of their lives.