Why Chickens Stop Laying Eggs

For both novice and seasoned poultry keepers, the experience of walking to your chicken coop, eager to collect a fresh batch of eggs, only to be met with empty nesting boxes, can be disheartening. There are various reasons why chickens stop laying eggs. Some factors include environmental issues, stressors, and natural biological processes. Understanding these factors is necessary for chicken keepers to maintain a productive and healthy flock.

In this article, we will take a closer look at common reasons why chickens stop laying eggs, what to do when it happens and how to stimulate egg production.

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Table of contents

• Common Reasons Why Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
• What to Do When Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
• How to Stimulate Egg Production

Common Reasons Why Chickens Stop Laying Eggs

There are many reasons why your chickens may have slowed down or completely stopped laying. It is important to figure out the root of the issue sooner than later. Here are a few reasons why your hens have stopped producing eggs:

The Chicken’s Age

One of the most significant factors affecting egg production is the age of the hen. Hens typically start laying eggs at around 5-6 months old but will start to slow down as they age. After their prime laying years, which are usually the first 2-3 years of their life, egg production gradually declines. Older hens may still lay occasionally but at a much-reduced rate.

Amount of daylight hours

Chickens are sensitive to the amount of daylight they receive. As the days shorten in the fall and winter, chickens may naturally reduce or stop laying eggs. The hormonal changes triggered by reduced daylight hours can affect their reproductive cycles.

Your Chickens Are Stressed

Stressful conditions, such as overcrowding, predator threats, changes in the coop environment, or handling, can lead to a decrease in egg production. Stressed hens redirect their energy away from egg-laying to cope with stressors.

diet and nutrition issues

Inadequate nutrition, imbalanced diets, or insufficient access to clean water can negatively impact egg production. Hens require a diet rich in essential nutrients, particularly calcium, to produce strong eggshells.

Disease and health issues

Illnesses or parasites can cause hens to stop laying. Common health issues that affect egg production include respiratory infections, mites, worms or lice infestations, and reproductive problems.

Certain parasites, such as worms, take all the vital nutrients that should be going to the hen and egg production, making it harder for them to produce eggs.

moulting

Moulting is a natural process in which chickens shed old feathers and grow new ones. During moulting, hens typically cease egg production to conserve energy for feather regrowth. This process can last several weeks and is completely natural.

Broody Hens

When a hen goes broody, she will stop laying eggs and focus all her energy on incubating her clutch. It is important to discourage broody behaviour if you do not intend to hatch chicks. If you do allow your broody hen to hatch her eggs, it may take up to 2-3 months for her to start laying again.

What to Do When Chickens Stop Laying Eggs

Now that we know common factors as to why chickens stop laying eggs, it’s time to figure out what the next steps are. Taking a proactive approach can help improve their overall well-being, address stressors, and optimize their environment and nutrition. This is key to maintaining consistent egg production in your flock.

It is important to note that recovery periods are natural and beneficial for hens. These periods are particularly necessary during moulting, brooding, or the winter season, as the chicken’s energy is utilized elsewhere to allow their bodies to rest and recuperate

With that being said, let’s get into what to do when your chickens stop laying eggs.

Assess the Environment

Stress inside the coop can have a large impact on your hen’s health, including their egg production. The first thing you should do is assess the environment. There are four main factors to pay close attention to.

• Cleanliness: Ensure that the coop and nesting boxes are clean and dry. Dirty or damp conditions can deter hens from laying and increase the risk of bacterial contamination.
• Ventilation: Proper ventilation is crucial to maintain good air quality in the coop. Ammonia buildup from feces can stress chickens and reduce egg production. Adequate ventilation helps mitigate this issue.
• Safety: Address potential stressors in the coop, such as overcrowding, bullying, or predator threats. Make sure the coop is secure and that chickens have a safe and comfortable space.
• Nesting Boxes: Check that the nesting boxes are comfortable, quiet, and dark. Hens prefer privacy when laying eggs. Ensure that there is enough space and that the boxes are clean, well-bedded, and free from drafts. If you don’t already have curtains, try adding fabric in front of the nesting boxes for added privacy.

Optimize Nutrition

Providing a well-balanced, nutritious diet with adequate protein and calcium is important for your chicken’s well-being. Ensure they have access to high-quality layer feed or supplemented diets that can support optimal egg production and plenty of clean water.

• Balanced Diet: Provide a well-balanced diet suitable for laying hens. High-quality commercial layer feed is designed to meet their nutritional needs. Make sure it contains the right protein, vitamins, and minerals.
• Calcium: Hens need ample calcium to produce strong eggshells. Having oyster shells readily available and adding crushed eggshells to their treats is a great way to add calcium to your hen’s diet.
• Clean Water: Always ensure that chickens have access to clean and fresh water. Dehydration can disrupt egg production.
• Feeding Schedule: Maintain a consistent feeding schedule. Offer food at the same times each day to help establish a routine for your chickens.

Monitor Their Health

When chickens are sick, their egg production slows down. Be sure to regularly inspect your chickens for signs of illness and implement a health maintenance plan to prevent diseases and parasites. Isolate and treat any sick chickens promptly.

• Regular Checkups: Performing routine health checks to identify any signs of illness, injury, or parasite infestations. Early detection and treatment are essential to prevent disruptions in egg production.
• Disease Prevention: Implement disease prevention measures, such as putting diatomaceous earth in the bedding, garlic in the water, and regularly deworming, to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks in your flock.
• Deworming: Include a regular deworming schedule to combat internal parasites every few months, which can affect overall health and egg production

Ensure They Have Adequate Lighting

In the fall and winter, supplement natural daylight with artificial light to maintain a minimum of 14-16 hours of light per day. This can help simulate longer days and encourage hens to continue laying through the colder months.

• Artificial Light: In the fall and winter, when daylight hours naturally decrease, use artificial lighting to maintain a minimum of 14-16 hours of light per day.
• Light Timings: Set timers to ensure consistent lighting schedules. This extended artificial lighting simulates longer days, which encourages hens to continue laying through the colder months.
• Avoid Too Much Light: The same as not enough light can cause chickens to stop laying, so can too much light. Any more than 16 hours a day of daylight can lead chickens to stop laying.

How to Stimulate Egg Production

Stimulating egg production in hens involves changes to their regimen and environment to encourage laying. Here are some ways you can help stimulate egg production in your backyard flock.

Adjust Lighting

If daylight hours are naturally decreasing due to season change, using artificial lighting to extend the hours of light in the coop might help. Gradually increase the daily exposure to light by 15 minutes until you reach the desired duration. Some people like to use timed lights in their coop to simulate longer days.

Just be sure not to overdo it, as the winter tends to be when chickens recover from producing new feathers after moulting.

Manage Stress

Reduce sources of stress in the coop environment. Provide hens with a quiet and safe space to lay, and consider making their nesting boxes more private by using curtains. Minimize handling, loud noises, and sudden changes in the coop until you figure out the cause of your hen’s stress.

As well as make sure the environment is comfortable by making sure the coop is clean, dry, well-ventilated, and free from drafts. Proper bedding and nesting materials should be provided.

Introduce New Hens

Recognize that egg production naturally decreases as hens age. If you have older hens, consider introducing younger birds to maintain egg production in your flock.

Be aware that different chicken breeds have varying laying patterns. Some breeds are more prolific layers than others. Choose breeds known for their consistent egg production if high yields are your priority. Examples of high egg-laying breeds include Leghorn, Rhode Island Red and Plymouth Rock.

Ensure Proper Nutrition

Ensure your hens are provided with a high-quality commercial layer feed. This feed is specifically formulated to meet the nutritional requirements of laying hens. It contains the right balance of protein, vitamins, and minerals.

In addition, a diet high in protein and calcium. Protein is essential for egg production. Ensure that your hens receive adequate protein in their diet. Most layer feeds contain around 15-19% protein. As well, adding calcium sources to their diet, such as oyster shells, is important to support strong eggshell formation.

Health Maintenance

As we mentioned above, making certain your chickens are healthy and free from pests and disease is another way to help keep egg production up. By treating them and making sure they are healthy, it’ll help bring their energy back to egg production.

By implementing these strategies and maintaining a conducive environment for your hens, you can stimulate and maintain consistent egg production in your flock. Regular care, nutrition, and attention to lighting and stress factors are key to achieving high and sustained egg yields.