Top 5 Reasons Your Hens Stop Laying – Explained by Gail Damerow
Top 5 Reasons Your Hens Stop Laying – Explained by Gail Damerow
Blog Article
Each and every backyard hen keeper has professional it: in the future, your hens are laying reliably, and the next, the nesting containers are mysteriously empty. As outlined by Gail Damerow, renowned poultry qualified and creator of Storey’s Guide to Boosting Chickens, this egg-laying pause is commonly not a secret in the slightest degree. There are distinct, all-natural factors hens quit laying, and comprehending them will help you assistance your flock and restore efficiency. Here are Damerow’s major 5 causes hens cease laying—and what you can do about them.
one. Molting: A Organic Pause
As Damerow explains, molting is a yearly event inside of a hen’s lifetime, normally developing in late summer months to early slide. In the course of this time, hens shed and regrow feathers—a system that requires an amazing number of Vitality and protein. Egg output typically stops throughout this era, as the hen's overall body focuses entirely 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. Prevent stressing the flock and let nature acquire its program. When the molt is entire, egg-laying must step by step resume.
2. Shortened Daylight Hours
Mild publicity performs a significant function in stimulating a hen’s reproductive technique. Damerow details out that hens need 14–16 hrs of daylight for steady laying. As daylight decreases in the fall and Wintertime 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 help winter laying. Stay away from sudden lighting modifications that might tension your birds.
3. Poor Nourishment
Nourishment is foundational to egg generation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a eating plan missing in protein, calcium, or vital nutritional vitamins can lead to fewer or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, while enjoyment, can dilute the well balanced diet provided by professional layer feed.
What You are able to do: Guarantee your flock has continual access to high-high-quality layer feed, cleanse drinking water, and calcium supplements like crushed oyster shell. Restrict treats to not more than 10% in their daily food plan.
4. Stress and Environmental Things
Pressure is a major contributor to lessened egg creation. Based on Damerow, stressors can involve predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Excessive temperatures, or perhaps transferring the coop. Hens are sensitive to alter and will react by halting egg output.
What You Can Do: Develop a calm, Safe and sound atmosphere in your birds. Preserve reliable routines, supply sufficient space, and deal with resources of stress including loud noises or intense flockmates.
five. Age and Health Issues
Damerow reminds us that laying just isn't a lifelong endeavor. Most hens begin laying close to five–six months of age, peak at about one–two years, then step by step slow down. Sickness, parasites, and reproductive troubles may interfere with laying.
What You are able to do: Keep an eye on your hens’ All round overall health. Perform frequent parasite checks, maintain a clear coop, and seek advice from a vet should you discover indications of sickness. More mature hens should be useful members of your flock even if their laying times are at the rear of them.
Remaining Views
As Gail Damerow normally 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 one thing within their atmosphere or biology has shifted. With a little bit of Fun88 Casino observation, great treatment, and many endurance, you will help guidebook your flock back to balanced egg generation—or simply value the natural rhythms in their lives.