Major 5 Good reasons Your Hens Stop Laying, Discussed by Gail Damerow
Major 5 Good reasons Your Hens Stop Laying, Discussed by Gail Damerow
Blog Article
If the hens have abruptly stopped laying eggs, you're not on your own—and there’s commonly a fantastic reason powering it. In accordance with Gail Damerow, revered poultry specialist and author from the Chicken Health Handbook and Storey’s Guideline to Raising Chickens, egg-laying is a posh system motivated by various environmental, biological, and nutritional factors. Listed here are the best 5 causes your hens may prevent laying, as spelled out by Damerow, as well as sensible tips that can help your flock get back heading in the right direction.
1. Molting Time
Molting can be a all-natural system in which chickens lose previous feathers and grow new types. Damerow emphasizes that molting normally takes place yearly, ordinarily in late summer time or tumble, and it demands a huge amount of Strength. All through this time, hens generally pause egg manufacturing to preserve nutrients for feather regrowth.
How to proceed: Wait and see and provide added protein (which include mealworms or higher-protein feed) to assist the molting process. When your hens are completed molting, egg output should resume.
2. Lowered Daylight
Chickens are remarkably conscious of light. In accordance with Damerow, hens have to have not less than fourteen to sixteen several hours of daylight to maintain regular laying. As daylight hours shorten in fall and winter, hens Normally minimize or end laying entirely.
What to do: It is possible to dietary supplement with artificial lighting inside the coop through the darker months. Make use of a minimal-watt bulb on a timer to simulate a longer day, but stay away from extreme lighting, which can stress the birds.
three. Lousy Diet
Diet regime is The most disregarded causes for decreased egg output. Damerow warns that even compact imbalances in the hen’s diet program—like as well little calcium, protein, or vital nutritional vitamins—can result in a noticeable fall in laying.
What to do: Be certain your hens have entry to a complete layer feed, in conjunction with clear h2o, oyster shells for calcium, and occasional clean greens or kitchen scraps. Prevent overfeeding treats or scratch grains, which dilute the nutritional worth in their diet plan.
four. Tension and Environmental Variations
Anxiety has a direct influence on a hen’s reproductive cycle. Damerow notes that sudden alterations—such as a predator attack, new flock customers, coop relocation, or Intense weather conditions—may cause hens to prevent laying.
How Nhà Cái Fun88 to proceed: Reduce disruptions and sustain a peaceful, consistent setting. Give new birds the perfect time to integrate slowly and gradually, and supply plenty of Area, perches, and nest bins to lessen Competitors and stress.
five. Age and Health concerns
As hens age, their egg production By natural means declines. Damerow points out that a lot of hens reach peak laying about 18 to 24 months and progressively taper off through the years. Disease, parasites, or underlying medical issues could also interfere with laying.
How to proceed: Keep an eye on more mature hens for signs of sickness, and take into account standard wellbeing checks. When older hens may not lay as frequently, they nevertheless contribute to flock dynamics and will Are living delighted, nutritious lives.
Last Thoughts
As Gail Damerow sensibly advises, egg-laying is not really almost biology—it’s about stability. When your hens stop laying, it’s ordinarily their strategy for telling you anything’s off. With consideration to lighting, nourishment, and care, you can help your flock prosper and keep those egg baskets comprehensive.