Top 5 Factors Your Hens Quit Laying – Described by Gail Damerow
Top 5 Factors Your Hens Quit Laying – Described by Gail Damerow
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Every single backyard rooster keeper has seasoned it: at some point, your hens are laying reliably, and the subsequent, the nesting packing containers are mysteriously empty. Based on Gail Damerow, renowned poultry qualified and author of Storey’s Tutorial to Elevating Chickens, this egg-laying pause is frequently not a secret in any respect. There are crystal clear, all-natural motives hens prevent laying, and comprehending them can assist you aid your flock and restore efficiency. Listed here are Damerow’s prime five motives hens halt laying—and what you can do about them.
1. Molting: A Natural Pause
As Damerow clarifies, molting is usually a annually occasion in a hen’s life, ordinarily taking place in late summer time to early fall. All through this time, hens eliminate and regrow feathers—a method that needs an incredible degree of Strength and protein. Egg production generally stops throughout this period, given that the hen's physique focuses fully on feather regeneration.
What You are able to do: Assist your hens with a substantial-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Avoid stressing the flock and Allow character choose its training course. When the molt is complete, egg-laying need to gradually resume.
2. Shortened Daylight Hours
Light exposure plays a vital position in stimulating a hen’s reproductive process. Damerow details out that hens need 14–sixteen several hours of daylight for dependable laying. As daylight decreases in the autumn and Winter season months, so does egg generation.
What You are able to do: Take into consideration introducing a light-weight supply while in the coop using a timer to simulate all-natural daylight. A low-wattage bulb turning on during the early morning can safely increase "daylight" and assist winter laying. Avoid sudden lights alterations that might strain your birds.
3. Weak Nutrition
Nourishment is foundational to egg creation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a diet program missing in protein, calcium, or important nutritional vitamins may result in fewer or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, even though enjoyment, can dilute the well balanced nutrition provided by industrial Fun88 Casino layer feed.
What You are able to do: Be certain your flock has consistent usage of higher-excellent layer feed, clean up h2o, and calcium supplements like crushed oyster shell. Limit treats to no more than ten% in their day-to-day eating plan.
4. Tension and Environmental Factors
Stress is A significant contributor to decreased egg manufacturing. Based on Damerow, stressors can include predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Serious temperatures, and even moving the coop. Hens are sensitive to vary and may respond by halting egg creation.
What You Can Do: Make a serene, Protected atmosphere for your personal birds. Retain steady routines, deliver sufficient House, and address sources of pressure such as loud noises or aggressive flockmates.
5. Age and Health problems
Damerow reminds us that laying isn't a lifelong endeavor. Most hens start out laying all around 5–six months of age, peak at about 1–2 yrs, after which step by step decelerate. Health issues, parasites, and reproductive concerns might also interfere with laying.
What You are able to do: Regulate your hens’ In general well being. Conduct normal parasite checks, preserve a thoroughly clean coop, and seek advice from a vet in case you observe signs of ailment. Older hens should be precious associates of the flock even if their laying days are behind them.
Closing Thoughts
As Gail Damerow normally says, “Chickens don’t just halt laying for no explanation.” If the hens take a split, it’s their technique for signaling that a thing in their natural environment or biology has shifted. With a little bit of observation, superior care, and several endurance, you can help information your flock again to wholesome egg creation—or simply enjoy the pure rhythms in their life.