Every single backyard hen keeper has experienced it: someday, your hens are laying reliably, and another, the nesting boxes are mysteriously vacant. Based on Gail Damerow, renowned poultry expert and author of Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, this egg-laying pause is frequently not a mystery in any respect. There are actually distinct, normal good reasons hens prevent laying, and knowing them can assist you assist your flock and restore productiveness. Allow me to share Damerow’s prime five reasons hens prevent laying—and what you are able to do about them.
1. Molting: A Purely natural Pause
As Damerow points out, molting is often a yearly occasion inside a hen’s everyday living, usually occurring in late summertime to early drop. During this time, hens reduce and regrow feathers—a approach that requires a huge quantity of Electrical power and protein. Egg creation frequently stops all through this period, as being the hen's entire body focuses solely on feather regeneration.
What You Can Do: Guidance your hens having a superior-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Stay away from stressing the flock and Enable nature just take its class. After the molt is finish, egg-laying ought to slowly resume.
two. Shortened Daylight Hours
Mild exposure performs a significant role in stimulating a hen’s reproductive technique. Damerow details out that hens need 14–16 hours of daylight for regular laying. As daylight decreases in the autumn and Wintertime months, so does egg production.
What You Can Do: Contemplate incorporating a light-weight resource during the coop with a timer to simulate organic daylight. A lower-wattage bulb turning on from the early early morning can safely and securely increase "daylight" and aid Wintertime laying. Avoid unexpected lights variations Which may strain your birds.
three. Lousy Diet
Diet is foundational to egg Fun88 Casino creation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet regime lacking in protein, calcium, or important vitamins can result in much less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, when pleasurable, can dilute the balanced nutrition furnished by professional layer feed.
What You Can Do: Make certain your flock has continuous access to superior-top quality layer feed, clear water, and calcium nutritional supplements like crushed oyster shell. Restrict treats to no more than ten% of their day by day eating plan.
4. Worry and Environmental Components
Anxiety is a major contributor to diminished egg manufacturing. According to Damerow, stressors can involve predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Excessive temperatures, or perhaps transferring the coop. Hens are sensitive to alter and can react by halting egg output.
What You Can Do: Make a relaxed, Harmless surroundings for your birds. Keep consistent routines, give enough Area, and tackle resources of tension for instance loud noises or intense flockmates.
5. Age and Health problems
Damerow reminds us that laying is just not a lifelong endeavor. Most hens commence laying all over five–6 months of age, peak at about 1–2 several years, after which you can progressively decelerate. Ailment, parasites, and reproductive issues also can interfere with laying.
What You Can Do: Control your hens’ In general health and fitness. Conduct typical parasite checks, keep a cleanse coop, and consult with a vet in the event you recognize signs of disease. Older hens may still be useful associates in the flock whether or not their laying days are driving them.
Ultimate Ideas
As Gail Damerow usually states, “Chickens don’t just quit laying for no purpose.” In case your hens take a crack, it’s their technique for signaling that a little something inside their natural environment or biology has shifted. With a little observation, fantastic care, and a few patience, you may also help guideline your flock back again to healthier egg manufacturing—or just take pleasure in the normal rhythms of their life.