Top 5 Reasons Your Hens Stop Laying – Explained by Gail Damerow
Top 5 Reasons Your Hens Stop Laying – Explained by Gail Damerow
Blog Article
Every backyard rooster keeper has experienced it: at some point, your hens are laying reliably, and the following, the nesting containers are mysteriously empty. As outlined by Gail Damerow, renowned poultry professional and author of Storey’s Guidebook to Elevating Chickens, this egg-laying pause is usually not a mystery whatsoever. You will find very clear, organic causes hens quit laying, and comprehending them will help you support your flock and restore efficiency. Here i will discuss Damerow’s top rated five factors hens stop 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 existence, usually developing in late summertime to early drop. During this time, hens eliminate and regrow feathers—a method that requires a huge volume of Power and protein. Egg generation usually stops during this period, given that 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 Permit nature get its class. Once the molt is comprehensive, egg-laying should progressively resume.
two. Shortened Daylight Several hours
Light exposure plays an important job in stimulating a hen’s reproductive system. Damerow points 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 lightweight supply from the coop with a timer to simulate all-natural daylight. A minimal-wattage bulb turning on while in the early early morning can safely and securely prolong "daylight" and guidance Wintertime laying. Prevent unexpected lights alterations That may pressure your birds.
3. Inadequate Nutrition
Nutrition is foundational to egg production. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet plan missing in protein, calcium, or critical natural vitamins may lead to less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, even though exciting, can dilute the balanced nourishment furnished by industrial layer feed.
What You Can Do: Ensure your flock has regular use of substantial-top quality layer feed, clean h2o, and calcium health supplements like crushed oyster shell. Limit treats to not more than 10% in their day-to-day diet program.
four. Worry and Environmental Factors
Stress is An important contributor to lowered egg production. In keeping with Damerow, stressors can incorporate predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Intense temperatures, or simply relocating the coop. Hens are delicate to change and will react by halting egg generation.
What You are able to do: Produce a quiet, Risk-free environment on your birds. Maintain regular routines, provide sufficient House, and address sources of strain like loud noises or intense flockmates.
five. Age and Health Issues
Damerow reminds us that laying isn't really a lifelong endeavor. Most hens start out laying about 5–six months of age, peak at about one–two years, after which little by little decelerate. Sickness, parasites, and reproductive troubles might also interfere with laying.
What You are able to do: Keep an eye on your hens’ General overall health. 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 worthwhile members of your flock even though their laying days are powering them.
Last Thoughts
As Gail Damerow frequently says, “Chickens don’t just stop laying for no reason.” In case your hens have a crack, it’s their strategy for signaling that a thing inside their setting or biology has shifted. With some observation, excellent care, and some Fun88 Casino tolerance, you may help information your flock back to healthy egg output—or just enjoy the all-natural rhythms in their lives.