Each individual backyard rooster keeper has professional 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 professional and author of Storey’s Manual to Raising Chickens, this egg-laying pause is often not a secret at all. You will find distinct, all-natural factors hens quit laying, and comprehending them will help you support your flock and restore efficiency. Here are Damerow’s major 5 causes hens quit laying—and what you are able to do about them.
1. Molting: A All-natural Pause
As Damerow clarifies, molting is often a yearly event in a very hen’s daily life, generally happening 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 period, as being the hen's body focuses fully on feather regeneration.
What You are able to do: Assist your hens with a substantial-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 need to gradually resume.
2. Shortened Daylight Hrs
Gentle publicity performs a vital part in stimulating a hen’s reproductive process. Damerow details out that hens require 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: Contemplate incorporating a light-weight supply during the coop with a timer to simulate all-natural daylight. A minimal-wattage bulb turning on while in the early morning can safely and securely prolong "daylight" and assist Winter season laying. Keep away from unexpected lighting improvements Which may tension your birds.
3. Very poor Nourishment
Nourishment is foundational to egg production. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet program missing in protein, calcium, or vital nutritional vitamins may result in fewer or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, whilst entertaining, can dilute the balanced diet provided by commercial layer feed.
What You Can Do: Make certain your flock has consistent use of significant-high-quality layer feed, clean up h2o, and calcium nutritional supplements like crushed oyster shell. Restrict treats to no more than 10% in their each day eating plan.
4. Tension and Environmental Elements
Stress is An important contributor to lowered egg manufacturing. In accordance with Damerow, stressors can consist of predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, extreme temperatures, or simply relocating the coop. Hens are delicate to change and might react by halting egg output.
What You Can Do: Develop a calm, Safe and sound surroundings for your personal birds. Sustain dependable routines, supply enough space, and deal with resources of stress for example loud noises or intense flockmates.
5. Age and Health problems
Damerow reminds us that laying is just not a lifelong endeavor. Most hens start off laying all over 5–six months of age, peak at about one–two many years, and afterwards steadily slow down. Disease, parasites, and reproductive challenges can also interfere with laying.
What You Can Do: Keep watch over your hens’ Total health and fitness. Conduct normal parasite checks, sustain a clear coop, and talk to a vet should you notice indications of illness. Older hens may still be beneficial members in the flock regardless of whether their laying days are guiding them.
Final Views
As Gail Damerow often 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 anything within their surroundings or biology has shifted. With a little bit of observation, great care, plus Fun88 Casino some endurance, you can assist guidebook your flock back to healthy egg output—or simply value the natural rhythms in their lives.