The price of eggs is HIGH but your chickens aren’t paying their rent with eggs. What’s going on? Why aren’t those freeloaders dropping golden eggs? There are a lot of possibilities but in this post, we will help you troubleshoot why your fowlish friends aren’t providing food for the breakfast table.
As a backyard chicken keeper, one of the main reasons for raising hens is to get a supply of delicious, fresh eggs. But what do you do when your chickens suddenly stop laying eggs?
When your hens stop laying eggs, they may go “off lay,” which can be annoying. Don’t worry, though. There are a few common reasons why chickens stop laying, and most of the time, the problem can be fixed.
In this article, we’ll explore the top 10 reasons your chicken may not be laying eggs, along with solutions to get your hen house productivity back on track.
Top 10 Reasons Why Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
1. Insufficient Daylight
Chickens require at least 12-14 hours of daylight to stimulate egg production. When daylight hours decrease, such as in winter, hens will typically stop laying.
Answer: To make daylight last longer, use artificial lighting in the coop from 14 to 16 hours. You could get an automatic coop door to let the hens out earlier or later.
2. Molting
Molting is the natural process where chickens shed old feathers and grow new ones. It typically occurs once a year and lasts 1-3 months. Molting requires a lot of energy so hens stop laying eggs during this time.
Solution: Provide extra protein in the diet to support feather regrowth. Molting is temporary so egg laying will resume when it ends.
3. Age
Egg production naturally declines as chickens get older, especially after 2-3 years. Some chicken breeds lay longer than others.
Solution: Consider replacing older hens with younger pullets for maximum egg production.
4. Broodiness
Broody hens stop laying eggs because their sole focus becomes incubating a clutch of eggs to hatch baby chicks. They can stay broody for several weeks.
Solution: To stop hens from being broody, take them out of the nest box several times a day and make it hard for them to get back in,
5. Stress
Stress from predators, moving, introducing new chickens, illness, or poor conditions can cause hens to stop laying.
Solution: Eliminate sources of stress and make sure coop is clean, dry and draft-free. Give extra TLC.
6. Improper Diet
An imbalance of nutrients, lack of calcium, or insufficient feed intake can impact egg production.
Solution: Provide a complete layer feed formulated with the nutrition hens need. Offer calcium supplement like oyster shell.
7. Decreased Daylight as Seasons Change
Egg production is tied to hours of daylight. As days get shorter in fall/winter, eggs will slow.
Solution: Use artificial lighting to maintain 14-16 hours of light in the coop during shorter winter days.
8. Obesity
Overweight, obese hens don’t always have the physiological ability to produce as many eggs. Excess fat deposits interfere with reproductive organs.
Solution: Prevent obesity by feeding proper portions and amounts of feed. Increase exercise opportunities.
9. Health Issues
Sick chickens or chickens with parasites will reduce egg production to conserve energy to fight off illness.
Solution: Identify and treat any health issues. Apple cider vinegar mixed in water can help your immune system.
10. Old Age
As chickens naturally age, in years 2-3+, egg laying declines and may eventually stop altogether.
Solution: Expect lower production from older hens. Replace aging flock members with younger pullets.
7 Tips to Get Chickens Laying Again
If your hens have gone off lay, here are some tips to troubleshoot and get them back to laying:
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Add artificial light: Supplement with a light on a timer to extend daylight hours to 14-16 hours.
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Eliminate stressors: Get rid of anything stressing them like predators, overcrowding, etc.
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Check for broodiness: Limit broody hens’ nest box access to break the broody cycle.
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Boost nutrition: Feed a complete layer feed and offer oyster shell for calcium.
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Provide treats: Treats like pumpkin or sunflower seeds can stimulate laying.
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Check for illness: Rule out and treat any health issues.
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Be patient: It may take days or weeks to see improved egg production.
When to Worry About Decreased Egg Production
While the occasional ebb and flow in egg production is normal, speak to a vet if eggs dramatically drop or cease for more than:
- 1 week during peak laying season
- 2-3 weeks outside peak season
- 1 month due to molting
Rapid declines in egg production can signify an underlying health issue requiring veterinary care. Seek help sooner rather than later.
The Joy of Fresh Eggs From Your Backyard Hens
Troubleshooting egg laying issues and getting hens back on track takes some effort, but it’s worth it for a bountiful supply of farm-fresh eggs.
When your coop is again overflowing with eggs, it makes all the hard work tending to your flock worthwhile. Keep these tips in mind, be patient with your chickens, and your egg basket will be full once more in no time.
Here’s to happy, healthy hens and eggs galore!
What Chickens Need in a Well Balanced Diet
Chickens are omnivores, which may be a surprising fact to some people. They eat seeds, grain, and grass, but they will also eat worms, insects, snakes, mice, and frogs. Most chickens don’t get all of their food from foraging, and some get none at all so it’s important to have good feed that meets all of their nutritional needs.
Most bagged feed you buy will be made to include the essential nutrients that your chicken needs to live and lay eggs.
According to the University of Georgia Extension, the things chickens need are:
- Carbs: Corn, wheat, barley, and millet are cereal grains that can give chickens the carbs they need.
- Fat
- Eggs, corn gluten meal, sunflower seeds, fishmeal, meat, and bonemeal are all good sources of protein that you can put in your chicken’s food.
- Vitamins: Vitamins A, D, E, K, and B are some of the vitamins that chickens need. Their bodies make vitamin C on their own, so they don’t need to eat extra of it.
- MineralsMinerals needed in their diet include calcium, phosphorus, and salt. Chicken farmers often feed their birds oyster shells to make sure they get enough calcium.
- Water
Some people are making their own chicken feed, but be careful not to forget some of the nutrients your chickens need for good health and to lay eggs.
Your Chickens Have a Predator Problem
Predators may be snagging your eggs, reducing the number of eggs you can collect. If a predator attacks your chicken or even if they are just scared of a nearby predator, the stress can make them stop laying for a while.
9 Reasons Your Chickens Aren’t Laying Eggs | And How To FIX It!
FAQ
What would cause a chicken to never lay eggs?
Parasites – lice, mites, fleas, internal worms – can cause bodily stress that impacts their laying. Stress can also be caused by being bullied, being handled too much, getting hurt, having noisy kids and pets in the garden, or living in a bad place. Making sure the hens have a space where they can stay happy and healthy is vital.
Why won’t my chickens start laying eggs?
– Stress factors like overcrowding, predators, or sudden changes in their environment can affect laying. Check for Health Issues: – Monitor your chickens for signs of illness, parasites, or infections. Consult a veterinarian if you suspect health problems. – Regularly deworm and vaccinate your flock as recommended.
How do I encourage my chickens to lay eggs?
To encourage your chickens to lay more eggs, focus on providing a comfortable, safe environment, a balanced diet, and ensuring they have enough daylight or artificial light.
What to do with a chicken that doesn’t lay eggs?
I would keep her in a quarantined area and give her some of her own food, really unlimited, but spread out over many meals throughout the day. For a few days or until her egg-laying returns to normal, I would add a powdered or liquid calcium supplement and multivitamin to her food.