Every single yard chicken keeper has seasoned it: in the future, your hens are laying reliably, and another, the nesting packing containers 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 mystery at all. You will find distinct, all-natural factors hens quit laying, and comprehending them can 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 Natural Pause
As Damerow clarifies, molting is a annually occasion within a hen’s lifestyle, typically transpiring in late summer season to early fall. Through this time, hens drop and regrow feathers—a process that needs a tremendous number of Vitality and protein. Egg production typically stops throughout this era, as the hen's overall body focuses completely on feather regeneration.

What You are able to do: Support your hens by using a high-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Keep away from stressing the flock and let nature acquire its program. When the molt is entire, egg-laying must little by little resume.

two. Shortened Daylight Hours
Mild publicity performs a significant role in stimulating a hen’s reproductive technique. Damerow details out that hens have to have 14–16 hrs of daylight for reliable laying. As daylight decreases in the autumn and Wintertime months, so does egg production.

What You Can Do: Take into account incorporating a lightweight resource during the coop having a timer to simulate organic daylight. A lower-wattage bulb turning on from the early early morning can properly prolong "daylight" and aid Wintertime laying. Stay clear of unexpected lights improvements That may pressure your birds.

three. Very poor Diet
Nutrition is foundational to egg manufacturing. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet plan lacking in protein, calcium, or essential natural vitamins may result in less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, even though exciting, can dilute the balanced nourishment furnished by business layer feed.

What You Can Do: Ensure your Fun88 Casino flock has regular usage of significant-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. Pressure and Environmental Aspects
Stress is A serious contributor to reduced egg output. As outlined by Damerow, stressors can incorporate predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Intense temperatures, or simply shifting the coop. Hens are delicate to change and might react by halting egg creation.

What You are able to do: Produce a quiet, Protected environment on your birds. Maintain regular routines, provide sufficient Place, and address sources of strain like loud noises or aggressive flockmates.

five. Age and Health concerns
Damerow reminds us that laying is not a lifelong endeavor. Most hens start off laying around 5–6 months of age, peak at about 1–two decades, and after that little by little decelerate. Illness, parasites, and reproductive concerns could also interfere with laying.

What You Can Do: Regulate your hens’ In general well being. Conduct standard parasite checks, retain a clean up coop, and seek the advice of a vet should you observe indications of ailment. More mature hens should still be worthwhile customers on 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.” If the hens take a break, it’s their way of signaling that some thing in their environment or biology has shifted. With a bit 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.