Every backyard hen keeper has skilled it: sooner or later, your hens are laying reliably, and the subsequent, the nesting bins are mysteriously vacant. In keeping with Gail Damerow, renowned poultry expert and author of Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, this egg-laying pause is commonly not a secret in the slightest degree. There are distinct, all-natural reasons hens stop laying, and understanding them can help you aid your flock and restore efficiency. Here's Damerow’s prime five explanations hens halt laying—and what you can do about them.
1. Molting: A Purely natural Pause
As Damerow points out, molting is actually a annually celebration in the hen’s existence, typically developing in late summer season to early fall. All through this time, hens get rid of and regrow feathers—a procedure that needs an incredible amount of Electricity and protein. Egg manufacturing normally stops for the duration of this era, since the hen's system focuses totally on feather regeneration.
What You are able to do: Help your hens which has a large-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Avoid stressing the flock and Allow character take its system. As soon as the molt is total, egg-laying really should gradually 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 introducing a light source inside the coop by using a timer to simulate pure daylight. A small-wattage bulb turning on in the early morning can safely extend "daylight" and assistance winter laying. Steer clear of sudden lighting changes that might stress your birds.
three. Weak Nourishment
Nourishment is foundational to egg generation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a eating plan missing in protein, calcium, or vital nutritional vitamins can lead to fewer or no eggs. Treats Fun88 Casino and scratch grains, while fun, can dilute the well balanced diet provided by professional layer feed.
What You are able to do: Guarantee your flock has continual entry to high-high-quality layer feed, clean up drinking water, and calcium supplements like crushed oyster shell. Restrict treats to no more than ten% of their every day diet.
four. Tension and Environmental Factors
Strain is A significant contributor to decreased 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 manufacturing.
What You are able to do: Create a serene, safe natural environment to your birds. Retain steady routines, deliver ample Room, and handle sources of pressure such as loud noises or aggressive flockmates.
5. Age and Health concerns
Damerow reminds us that laying is not a lifelong endeavor. Most hens get started laying around 5–6 months of age, peak at about 1–2 yrs, and after that slowly decelerate. Illness, parasites, and reproductive problems could also interfere with laying.
What You are able to do: Regulate your hens’ overall wellness. Carry out common parasite checks, manage 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 regardless of whether their laying times are guiding them.
Closing Feelings
As Gail Damerow generally claims, “Chickens don’t just end laying for no explanation.” When your hens take a break, it’s their way of signaling that some thing in their environment or biology has shifted. With a certain amount of observation, superior treatment, and several persistence, you might help guide your flock again to nutritious egg creation—or simply respect the pure rhythms of their life.