Top 5 Reasons Your Hens Stop Laying – Defined by Gail Damerow
Top 5 Reasons Your Hens Stop Laying – Defined by Gail Damerow
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Each and every yard hen keeper has seasoned it: someday, your hens are laying reliably, and another, the nesting boxes are mysteriously vacant. Based on Gail Damerow, renowned poultry specialist and author of Storey’s Guidebook to Elevating Chickens, this egg-laying pause is usually not a mystery whatsoever. You will find very clear, organic factors hens quit laying, and comprehending them will help you assistance your flock and restore efficiency. Here i will discuss Damerow’s major 5 factors hens quit laying—and what you are able to do about them.
1. Molting: A Natural Pause
As Damerow points out, molting can be a yearly party in the hen’s existence, usually taking place in late summer to early tumble. In the course of this time, hens shed and regrow feathers—a system that requires an amazing volume of Power and protein. Egg output usually stops during this period, given that the hen's human body focuses solely on feather regeneration.
What You Can Do: Guidance your hens having a significant-protein feed or snacks like mealworms and scrambled eggs. Stay away from stressing the flock and Permit mother nature get its class. Once the molt is comprehensive, egg-laying should progressively resume.
two. Shortened Daylight Several hours
Light-weight exposure plays an important purpose in stimulating a hen’s reproductive system. Damerow points out that hens need to have fourteen–sixteen several hours of daylight for constant laying. As daylight decreases in the fall and Winter season months, so does egg generation.
What You are able to do: Consider adding a light source while in 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 assistance winter laying. Stay away from sudden lighting modifications that might stress your birds.
three. Weak Nourishment
Nourishment is foundational to egg generation. Damerow warns that feeding chickens a eating plan lacking in protein, calcium, or crucial vitamins can lead to fewer or no eggs. Treats and scratch grains, though enjoyment, can dilute the well balanced nutrition provided by professional layer feed.
What You Can Do: Make certain your flock has continuous access to superior-excellent layer feed, clear water, and calcium supplements like crushed oyster shell. Restrict treats to no more than ten% of their daily food plan.
4. Strain and Environmental Components
Anxiety is a major contributor to diminished egg manufacturing. According to Damerow, stressors can include things like predator threats, overcrowding, bullying, Severe temperatures, or even transferring the coop. Hens are sensitive to alter and will react by halting egg generation.
What You Can Do: Develop a calm, Safe and sound atmosphere in your birds. Preserve reliable routines, offer sufficient House, and deal with resources of worry including loud noises or Fun88 Casino intense flockmates.
five. Age and Health Issues
Damerow reminds us that laying isn't really a lifelong endeavor. Most hens start out laying about 5–six months of age, peak at about one–two years, after which 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 wellbeing. Carry out standard parasite checks, manage a clean coop, and seek the advice of a vet should you observe indications of ailment. More mature hens should still be worthwhile customers on the flock regardless of whether their laying times are guiding them.
Closing Feelings
As Gail Damerow typically claims, “Chickens don’t just end laying for no explanation.” When your hens take a break, it’s their way of signaling that something of their environment or biology has shifted. With a certain amount of observation, superior treatment, and several persistence, you might help guide your flock again to nutritious egg creation—or simply respect the pure rhythms of their life.