Every backyard rooster keeper has professional it: at some point, your hens are laying reliably, and the next, the nesting containers are mysteriously empty. In accordance with Gail Damerow, renowned poultry skilled and writer of Storey’s Information to Increasing Chickens, this egg-laying pause is frequently not a thriller in any respect. You can find obvious, normal motives hens end laying, and comprehension them can assist you help your flock and restore productivity. Listed here are Damerow’s top 5 motives hens cease laying—and what you can do about them.
one. Molting: A Organic Pause
As Damerow explains, molting is usually 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 often stops through this era, because the hen's system focuses completely on feather regeneration.
What You are able to do: Assistance your hens that has a higher-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Prevent stressing the flock and let character 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 program. Damerow factors out that hens have to have fourteen–16 hours of daylight for steady laying. As daylight decreases in the autumn and Winter season months, so does egg output.
What You are able to do: Think about including a light-weight supply while in the coop that has a timer to simulate purely natural daylight. A low-wattage bulb turning on within the early morning can safely extend "daylight" and assistance winter laying. Stay away from sudden lighting modifications that might stress your birds.
three. Weak Nourishment
Nourishment is foundational to egg generation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a eating plan lacking in protein, calcium, or crucial vitamins can result in much less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, though enjoyment, can dilute the well balanced nutrition provided by professional layer feed.
What You Can Do: Make certain your flock has continuous usage of superior-excellent layer feed, clear water, and calcium nutritional supplements like crushed oyster shell. Limit treats to no more than ten% of their day by day eating plan.
4. Worry and Environmental Components
Anxiety is An important contributor to diminished egg manufacturing. According Fun88 Casino to Damerow, stressors can include things like predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Severe temperatures, or even transferring the coop. Hens are sensitive to alter and will react by halting egg output.
What You Can Do: Develop a calm, Safe and sound atmosphere in your birds. Preserve dependable routines, supply sufficient space, and deal with resources of stress for example loud noises or intense flockmates.
five. Age and Health Issues
Damerow reminds us that laying just isn't a lifelong endeavor. Most hens begin laying close to five–six months of age, peak at about one–two many years, then gradually slow down. Sickness, parasites, and reproductive difficulties may interfere with laying.
What You Can Do: Keep an eye on your hens’ All round wellbeing. Perform frequent parasite checks, maintain a thoroughly clean coop, and check with a vet when you see indications of health issues. More mature hens should be important users of the flock even if their laying times are at the rear of them.
Final Views
As Gail Damerow normally suggests, “Chickens don’t just prevent laying for no rationale.” In the event 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 guidebook your flock back to balanced egg generation—or simply appreciate the purely natural rhythms in their lives.