You may have wondered at some point what causes chickens to stop laying eggs. It’s a question that’s often asked by most backyard chicken enthusiasts and those just starting with keeping chickens.
Chickens lay eggs for a variety of reasons, but there are five main reasons why they might stop. Below, we’ll take a look at each of these reasons and give you some tips on how to get your hens back to laying eggs.
Table of Contents
Nutritional Deficiencies
One of the most common reasons why chickens stop laying eggs is due to nutritional deficiencies. Nutritional deficiencies can arise when the chicken’s diet isn’t properly balanced, or when they’re not getting enough essential nutrients.
Some of the most common nutrients that chickens need for optimal egg production include protein, calcium, phosphorous, Vitamin A, and Vitamin D. If your chickens are not getting enough of these nutrients, it can cause them to stop laying eggs.
Age
The second most common reason for a chicken to stop laying eggs is age. Chickens typically lay eggs for the first two to three years of their lives, after which production begins to slow down. Eventually, the chicken will stop laying eggs altogether. This is a biological process and there is nothing you can do to avert it.
Stress and Lifestyle
Chickens are like people—when they’re stressed out, they stop being productive. There are several reasons why chickens might be stressed out, and it’s important to know what they are so you can help your flock stay healthy and productive.
One of the most common causes of stress for chickens is changes in their environment. Maybe you’ve moved them to a new coop, changed their feed, or started letting them roam free. Any kind of change can be stressful for them, so try to keep their routine as consistent as possible.
Another big stressor for chickens is overcrowding. If you have too many chickens in too small of a space, it can create tension and competition for food and nesting areas. Try to give your chickens plenty of room to spread out and relax.
Lifestyle choices can also cause stress in chickens. If you’re smoking, drinking,g or using drugs around your birds, it can be very harmful to them. Chemicals in these substances can make your hens sick and stop them from laying eggs.
Light Exposure
Another reason why chickens may stop laying eggs is light exposure. For chickens, this means that they need 10-14 hours of sunlight each day, and if they don’t get enough, then their body won’t produce the right hormones to lay eggs. This is especially true in winter months when there are fewer hours of daylight.
To combat this, you can invest in a light or two and install them in the coop to give your chickens extra hours of light each day. If you’re not sure what kind of lights to get, look for ones that are designed specifically for chicken coops—they will be strong enough to keep your flock laying eggs throughout the year.
You’ll also want to ensure that you aren’t overcrowding your coop so your chickens have plenty of space and fresh air circulation. This goes a long way toward keeping your hens healthy and active enough to continue laying eggs.
Too Much Egg Laying activity
If your chickens have been laying eggs non-stop over an extended period, they may take a break to rest. Too much egg-laying will deplete their reserves, leaving them feeling worn out and unable to produce more eggs.
It’s important to remember that chickens are living creatures and won’t be able to lay eggs indefinitely without taking breaks. Make sure they get enough rest by introducing some activities such as dust baths or providing them with plenty of fresh grass and other greens.
You can also give them a quality feed that includes plenty of protein and calcium to help them replenish the nutrients lost from egg production. As long as you keep their environment healthy and comfortable, your chickens should eventually start laying eggs again.
Conclusion
So if you’re finding that your hens have suddenly stopped laying eggs, it’s worth checking out whether one of these reasons is the culprit. Fortunately, most of these causes are relatively easy to rectify, so hopefully, you’ll be able to get your chickens back to laying eggs in no time!