Every backyard rooster keeper has experienced it: at some point, your hens are laying reliably, and the following, the nesting containers are mysteriously empty. In line with Gail Damerow, renowned poultry pro and creator of Storey’s Guideline to Boosting Chickens, this egg-laying pause is commonly not a thriller in the least. You will discover apparent, purely natural explanations hens prevent laying, and being familiar with them will let you aid your flock and restore productiveness. Here's Damerow’s prime five reasons hens prevent laying—and what you are able to do about them.
1. Molting: A Natural Pause
As Damerow clarifies, molting can be a yearly party in a very hen’s daily life, usually developing in late summertime to early drop. During this time, hens eliminate and regrow feathers—a method that needs an incredible quantity of Electrical power and protein. Egg creation often stops through this period, as being the hen's physique focuses fully on feather regeneration.
What You Can Do: Assist your hens with a significant-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Steer clear of stressing the flock and Permit mother nature get its class. Once the molt is finish, egg-laying should slowly resume.
two. Shortened Daylight Several hours
Light exposure plays an important job in stimulating a hen’s reproductive method. Damerow factors out that hens need to have fourteen–sixteen several hours of daylight for constant laying. As daylight decreases in the fall and Winter season months, so does egg generation.
What You are able to do: Consider adding a light source while in the coop that has a timer to simulate natural daylight. A reduced-wattage bulb turning on inside the early morning can securely lengthen "daylight" and help Winter season laying. Keep away from sudden lighting adjustments that might tension your birds.
3. Bad Nutrition
Nourishment is foundational to egg output. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a food plan missing in protein, calcium, Fun88 Casino or necessary nutritional vitamins may end up in fewer or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, whilst enjoyable, can dilute the well balanced diet supplied by commercial layer feed.
What You are able to do: Assure your flock has consistent entry to higher-quality layer feed, clean up drinking water, and calcium dietary supplements like crushed oyster shell. Restrict treats to no more than 10% in their everyday diet plan.
four. Anxiety and Environmental Factors
Worry is A significant contributor to decreased egg generation. In line with Damerow, stressors can consist of predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Extraordinary temperatures, as well as moving the coop. Hens are delicate to vary and may respond by halting egg manufacturing.
What You are able to do: Create a serene, Secure natural environment for the birds. Retain constant 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. Health issues, parasites, and reproductive problems could also interfere with laying.
What You are able to do: Regulate your hens’ overall well being. Carry out standard parasite checks, retain a clean up coop, and consult a vet should you recognize signs of disease. Older hens may still be useful associates in the flock whether or not their laying days are powering them.
Last Ideas
As Gail Damerow usually says, “Chickens don’t just quit laying for no purpose.” In case your hens take a crack, it’s their strategy for signaling that a thing inside their setting or biology has shifted. With some observation, excellent care, plus some tolerance, you may help information your flock back to healthy egg output—or just value the natural rhythms in their lives.