Each and every yard hen keeper has experienced it: sooner or later, your hens are laying reliably, and the following, the nesting bins are mysteriously empty. As outlined by Gail Damerow, renowned poultry qualified and creator of Storey’s Guide to Raising Chickens, this egg-laying pause is commonly not a secret in the slightest degree. There are clear, natural reasons hens stop laying, and understanding them can help you aid your flock and restore efficiency. 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 existence, usually developing in late summertime to early drop. During this time, hens eliminate and regrow feathers—a method that requires a tremendous volume of Power and protein. Egg output usually stops during this period, given that the hen's human body focuses solely on feather regeneration.

What You Can Do: Guidance your hens using a superior-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Stay away from stressing the flock and Enable nature get its class. After the molt is finish, egg-laying should slowly resume.

two. Shortened Daylight Several hours
Light exposure plays an important purpose 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: Take into consideration adding a light source inside the coop that has a timer to simulate purely natural daylight. A low-wattage bulb turning on within the early morning can safely extend "daylight" and assistance winter laying. Steer clear of sudden lighting changes that might stress your birds.

three. Weak Nourishment
Diet is foundational to egg creation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet regime lacking in protein, calcium, or crucial vitamins can result in much less or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, though enjoyment, can dilute the well balanced nutrition furnished by business layer feed.

What You Can Do: Make sure your flock has continuous usage of significant-good quality layer feed, clear water, and calcium nutritional supplements like crushed oyster shell. Limit treats to not more than 10% of their each day diet regime.

4. Strain and Environmental Variables
Tension 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 might react by halting egg creation.

What You are able to do: Produce a quiet, Protected environment on your birds. Maintain regular routines, provide sufficient Place, and address sources of strain like loud noises or aggressive flockmates.

five. Age and Health concerns
Damerow reminds us that laying is not a lifelong endeavor. Most hens start off laying around 5–6 months of age, peak at about 1–two decades, 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 in the event 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 frequently says, “Chickens Fun88 Casino don’t just stop laying for no reason.” In case your hens have a crack, it’s their strategy for signaling that anything within their surroundings or biology has shifted. With a little bit of observation, excellent care, plus some endurance, you can assist guidebook your flock back to healthy egg output—or simply value the natural rhythms in their lives.