Every single yard rooster keeper has skilled it: in the future, your hens are laying reliably, and another, the nesting boxes are mysteriously empty. In line with Gail Damerow, renowned poultry expert and creator of Storey’s Guideline to Raising Chickens, this egg-laying pause is often not a mystery whatsoever. You will find very clear, organic causes hens cease laying, and knowing them can assist you support your flock and restore efficiency. Here are Damerow’s top 5 motives hens cease laying—and what you are able to do about them.

one. Molting: A Organic Pause
As Damerow explains, molting is usually a annually occasion in a hen’s lifetime, generally happening in late summer to early slide. In the course of this time, hens lose and regrow feathers—a course of action that requires an amazing level of Power and protein. Egg generation usually stops all through this period, given that the hen's entire body focuses solely on feather regeneration.

What You Can Do: Guidance your hens having a significant-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Stay away from stressing the flock and Permit mother nature take its system. As soon as the molt is total, egg-laying really should steadily resume.

2. Shortened Daylight Hrs
Light-weight publicity 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 are able to do: Take into consideration adding a light source while in the coop that has a timer to simulate purely natural daylight. A reduced-wattage bulb turning on inside the early morning can securely lengthen "daylight" and help Winter season laying. Keep away from unexpected lighting adjustments That may anxiety your birds.

3. Poor Nutrition
Diet is foundational to egg creation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet regime lacking in protein, calcium, or important vitamins can result in fewer or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, although enjoyable, can dilute the balanced nourishment supplied by industrial layer feed.

What You Can Do: Be certain your flock has frequent use of large-high quality layer feed, 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
Tension is An important contributor to lowered egg production. In keeping with Damerow, stressors can incorporate predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Intense temperatures, or simply relocating the coop. Hens are delicate to change and will react by halting egg generation.

What You Can Do: Develop a calm, Risk-free atmosphere for your personal birds. Sustain dependable routines, give enough Area, and tackle resources 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 Fun88 Casino all-around 5–6 months of age, peak at about 1–2 yrs, and after that slowly decelerate. Health issues, parasites, and reproductive problems also can interfere with laying.

What You are able to do: Regulate your hens’ overall wellness. Carry out standard parasite checks, retain a clean coop, and seek the advice of a vet should you observe indications of ailment. More mature hens should still be worthwhile customers with the flock although their laying times are guiding them.

Remaining Feelings
As Gail Damerow generally claims, “Chickens don’t just halt laying for no motive.” If the hens have a split, it’s their method of signaling that some thing in their atmosphere or biology has shifted. With a bit of observation, good treatment, and many persistence, you will help manual your flock back to balanced egg production—or just value the natural rhythms in their lives.