When your hens have suddenly stopped laying eggs, you're not alone—and there’s commonly a very good reason at the rear of it. Based on Gail Damerow, respected poultry expert and creator with the Rooster Overall health Handbook and Storey’s Guidebook to Elevating Chickens, egg-laying is a posh course of action motivated by many different environmental, biological, and nutritional things. Here i will discuss the highest five reasons your hens may perhaps halt laying, as described by Damerow, together with practical recommendations to help you your flock get back on target.

1. Molting Year
Molting is actually a natural course of action in which chickens lose previous feathers and mature new types. Damerow emphasizes that molting ordinarily happens every year, generally in late summer or fall, and it requires a tremendous level of Strength. All through this time, hens typically pause egg output to conserve nutrients for feather regrowth.

What to do: Be patient and provide further protein (such as mealworms or substantial-protein feed) to aid the molting procedure. After your hens are completed molting, egg output should resume.

two. Decreased Daylight
Chickens are extremely attentive to light. Based on Damerow, hens need at the least 14 to sixteen hours of daylight to maintain typical laying. As daylight several hours shorten in drop and winter, hens naturally cut down or halt laying entirely.

How to proceed: You may dietary supplement with synthetic lighting from the coop throughout the darker months. Make use of a reduced-watt bulb on the timer to simulate a longer day, but stay clear of excessive lights, that may worry the birds.

three. Very poor Diet
Diet program is The most disregarded causes for decreased egg production. Damerow warns that even compact imbalances in a very hen’s diet regime—like also small calcium, protein, or key nutritional vitamins—can cause a noticeable fall in laying.

What to do: Make sure your hens have usage of a whole layer feed, along with cleanse water, oyster shells for calcium, and occasional contemporary greens or kitchen scraps. Prevent overfeeding treats or scratch grains, which dilute the nutritional value in Nhà Cái Fun88 their diet.

4. Worry and Environmental Improvements
Tension has a direct influence on a hen’s reproductive cycle. Damerow notes that sudden changes—like a predator assault, new flock customers, coop relocation, or extreme climate—might cause hens to halt laying.

How to proceed: Reduce disruptions and retain a relaxed, consistent surroundings. Give new birds time and energy to combine bit by bit, and supply plenty of House, perches, and nest packing containers to lower competition and anxiousness.

five. Age and Health Issues
As hens age, their egg manufacturing In a natural way declines. Damerow clarifies that most hens attain peak laying around 18 to 24 months and steadily taper off over the years. Sickness, parasites, or underlying medical issues may also interfere with laying.

How to proceed: Check more mature hens for indications of ailment, and look at frequent health and fitness checks. Though more mature hens might not lay as typically, they however lead to flock dynamics and may Reside pleased, wholesome life.

Closing Feelings
As Gail Damerow properly advises, egg-laying isn't just about biology—it’s about equilibrium. Whenever your hens cease laying, it’s generally their way of telling you something’s off. With notice to lights, nutrition, and treatment, you can assist your flock thrive and continue to keep All those egg baskets total.