Last Updated on February 22, 2024 by AwesomeChickens
Sometimes chickens can be fickle, especially following their annual molting or after a long, harsh winter. These times, in particular, make chickens much less interested in laying eggs because they have been out of commission for such a long time.
If you are having trouble with a broody hen not wanting to lay eggs, the best way to help encourage them is by providing the proper nutrition, fresh water, and a calm environment.
If your laying hen is uncomfortable, unhappy, or unhealthy, they are less likely to provide you with any eggs. In this article, we will provide you with why your chickens may be laying fewer eggs and how you, as a chicken keeper, can help encourage them to produce more.
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Why Has My Chicken Stopped Laying Eggs?
Chickens will stop laying eggs for many reasons. Some of these reasons are common and happen to most chickens during specific situations. Other times, it can be due to an illness or an injury. Here is a list of reasons why your chickens may have stopped egg-laying:
Molting
A chicken will molt once a year, usually around fall in preparation for the winter months. Molting is a normal, natural way for birds to shed their old set of feathers in order to make way for new ones to grow in. This is a harsh and exhausting ordeal; so many chickens stop egg laying during this time in order to utilize all their energy for their yearly molt.
Molting usually lasts around eight weeks; once this time is complete, egg production should resume.
Cold Weather
Another reason you may not see many eggs left in the chicken coop during the colder seasons is due to the colder temperatures. When the temperature drops, chickens need to work harder to maintain their body temperature; this will cause them to refrain from egg production until the weather warms back up.
Age
On average, hens will stop producing eggs after they hit five-to-seven years of age. Unfortunately, this is typical in poultry, and it isn’t much you can do to increase egg production after this stage.
Dehydration and Malnourishment
Dehydration and a lack of nutrients can be an enormous contributors to diminished egg laying in your chicken breed.
Water is extremely important for egg production; without it your chicken will become stressed out and can even die.
How to Get Chickens to Start Laying Again
If you have noticed a decrease in eggs coming from the coop and managed to figure out why then it is time to start making changes in order to correct the situation.
Change Your Chicken Feed
If your birds are not laying eggs because they are not receiving enough nutrients from their diet, you should consider changing their feed.
Make sure your layer pellets are enriched with plenty of Vitamin D and calcium, along with a good source of protein.
You can also add a variety of fruits and veggies to your chicken’s feeding dish to keep their vitamins in check.
Provide Plenty of Water
Your chickens may need access to more water or fresher water. If their water is too warm or their water containers are too dirty, they may refuse to drink, causing them to become heat stressed or dehydrated. If this is the case, providing access to plenty of freshwaters will increase the chances of higher production.
Provide a Safe and Warm Coop
If your chicken has a safe and clean place to lay, it will be more likely to lay eggs. This is why free-range chickens tend to have a better overall count than cooped-up chickens. In addition, chickens who have room to roam are able to find their own spot to lay, which makes them feel comfortable and secure.
What to Expect When Your Chickens Begin to Lay?
Once your chicken begins to lay eggs, it is crucial that you provide them with a proper diet to maintain the energy and calcium they need in order to produce healthy and fully formed eggs properly.
A great way to provide extra calcium into their diet is by taking previously laid eggs and crushing the shells into tiny pieces. Place the pieces into a separate feeding dish and place it in the pen near their other food dishes.
You are also going to notice that the first few weeks of eggs laid are noticeably smaller than the average egg size. This is common, and they will eventually grow to normal size.
Your chickens will peck at the crushed egg, ingesting their own shells and retaining the calcium stored in it.
How Do You Know Which Chicken is Laying?
If you have noticed a decrease in eggs from your flock daily but are unsure which hens are laying and which are not, here are a few good ways to determine who isn’t producing and why.
Check the Egg Colors
If you have a variety of birds in your backyard flock, take note of what color eggs are coming in. This is the easiest way to determine who isn’t laying; however, many times, flocks consist of the same breed.
Observe Nesting
Most hens that are laying eggs tend to sit in their nesting box for a few minutes before they lay their eggs. If you can locate a chicken in your flock of backyard hens who never seem to frequent the nest, they may be the reason for your decrease in eggs.
Check Her Pelvic Bones
A hen who is not laying many eggs will have strong pelvic bones sitting close together. Those that are laying will have bones that are a few inches apart in length, providing enough room for the eggs to pass through.
To Sum Things up
If you have noticed that your chickens are not laying as many eggs as they used to or have stopped laying together, make sure they are getting plenty of nutritious food and fresh, clean water. Remember, only happy, healthy, and comfortable chickens lay eggs.
