Why are my hens not laying eggs?
Have you noticed a change in the number of eggs your hens are laying? There may be a variety of reasons, but there’s usually a simple explanation and solution. Weather, stress, molting, light, and predators may all be affecting your hens’ state of mind and can contribute to their production.
Under perfect conditions, chickens lay an egg every 24-26 hours. That may change based on their age, change of seasons or any other number of factors. Some of these reasons are natural while others can be fixed with simple changes. It’s up to you to solve the mystery of why farm fresh eggs might be missing from the nesting box.
Here are some of the main reasons why your hens’ egg production has changed:
LIGHT: The first and most common cause of decreased egg production is light. Hens need a minimum of 16 hours of daylight. Without supplemental light, they may stop laying eggs due to a hormonal response as the days get shorter.
Some owners choose not to use additional light in order to give their hens a rest from laying.
THE COOP: A hen’s home has to feel safe, secure and stress-free. Check for predators, loud noises, over-crowding, illnesses, pecking drama, heat and cold.
FOOD: Hens need 4 grams of calcium each day. Layer feeds are formulated to provide what they need but if you offer too many other treats, those nutrients can become diluted. Make sure 90% of the hen’s diet is complete feed and the remaining 10% can be treats.
MOLTING: At around 18 months of age and each year after that, chickens go through molt which is a period of feather loss and regrowth. This usually happens in the fall and also causes a decrease in egg production. Once the new feathers have grown in, the egg production should resume.
AGE: Chickens begin laying eggs at about 18 weeks of age and egg production will peak at about 250-280 eggs during their first year but then the numbers decline each year. Just because she’s no longer a spring chicken, your older hens can be valued members of the flock and can teach newcomers how things work.
