Each and every yard hen keeper has expert it: at some point, your hens are laying reliably, and another, the nesting boxes are mysteriously empty. Based on Gail Damerow, renowned poultry expert and author of Storey’s Guidebook to Boosting Chickens, this egg-laying pause is often not a mystery in the least. You'll find apparent, organic good reasons hens stop laying, and comprehension them will let you support your flock and restore efficiency. Listed here are Damerow’s prime 5 explanations hens stop laying—and what you are able to do about them.

1. Molting: A Pure Pause
As Damerow points out, molting can be a yearly party in a hen’s life, typically transpiring in late summer season to early fall. All through this time, hens eliminate and regrow feathers—a approach that requires a huge level of Electrical power and protein. Egg output typically stops in the course of this era, because 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 Permit mother nature take its program. After the molt is finish, egg-laying should slowly resume.

two. Shortened Daylight Hrs
Mild exposure plays a vital part in stimulating a hen’s reproductive program. Damerow points out that hens require fourteen–sixteen hours of daylight for reliable laying. As daylight decreases in the fall and winter months, so does egg manufacturing.

What You Can Do: Contemplate adding a lightweight supply within the coop with a timer to simulate purely natural daylight. A lower-wattage bulb turning on inside the early early morning can securely increase "daylight" and help Wintertime laying. Prevent unexpected lighting improvements that might strain Fun88 Casino your birds.

three. Bad Diet
Nourishment is foundational to egg manufacturing. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a food plan lacking in protein, calcium, or necessary natural vitamins can lead to less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, even though fun, can dilute the balanced diet supplied by industrial layer feed.

What You Can Do: Make certain your flock has frequent use of significant-quality layer feed, thoroughly clean water, and calcium dietary supplements like crushed oyster shell. Limit treats to not more than 10% of their daily diet.

four. Pressure and Environmental Variables
Pressure is A significant contributor to reduced egg production. In line with Damerow, stressors can include things like predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Excessive temperatures, as well as shifting the coop. Hens are delicate to alter and will react by halting egg production.

What You Can Do: Make a relaxed, Harmless setting for the birds. Retain constant routines, give enough space, and deal with sources of strain like loud noises or aggressive flockmates.

5. Age and Medical issues
Damerow reminds us that laying is just not a lifelong endeavor. Most hens begin laying close to 5–6 months of age, peak at about one–two decades, and after that slowly slow down. Sickness, parasites, and reproductive troubles could also interfere with laying.

What You Can Do: Keep an eye on your hens’ overall well being. Perform common parasite checks, keep a clear coop, and check with a vet should you discover indications of disease. More mature hens should still be important users of the flock even when their laying days are behind them.

Final Thoughts
As Gail Damerow often says, “Chickens don’t just stop laying for no reason.” If 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 treatment, plus some endurance, you can assist tutorial your flock again to nutritious egg output—or just respect the pure rhythms of their life.