Why Aren't My Chickens Laying Eggs?
A decrease in egg production in the fall and winter is perfectly normal and most likely attributable to shorter days and molting hens, but it can also be something a bit more formidable.
Egg production naturally ebbs and flows in a backyard flock. Chickens are extremely routine-oriented and any change in routine can throw off their laying. They can be rather fickle when it comes to providing you with fresh, delicious eggs year round.
Since your chickens are not living in a light- and temperature-consistent, confined, controlled environment like commercially-raised hens, it's natural that they will respond to different stimuli (or the lack thereof) by ceasing egg production - at least until things get back to normal.
Here are some of the top reasons why you might all of a sudden find yourself collecting fewer eggs - and some suggestions on what you can do about that.
Why Aren't my Chickens Laying Eggs?
Shorter Days Make Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
As winter approaches and the hours of daylight wane, egg production will slow. A hen needs a minimum of 14 hours of daylight to stimulate her ovaries to release an egg.
Solution
Add supplemental light in your coop to provide the additional light needed. Set a timer to have the light turn on before sunrise to add the hours of light needed to total 14-16 hours.
**I don't recommend this solution however, I prefer to give my chickens a much-needed break through the winter, since they use lots of energy to keep warm, and I believe that supplemental light causes undue stress on their bodies, but that’s a personal choice on my part.
So my preferred solution is to add a few new chicks to your flock each spring. Young layers will lay through their first winter without any supplemental light, picking up the slack for your older hens until everyone starts laying again in the spring.
Molting Season Makes Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
Fall is also the time when hens will generally molt. They usually stop laying altogether during the molt, although some will continue to lay during the beginning part of the molt, which can last for weeks, or even months.
SolutionYou have to let the molt run its course, but adding additional protein to your chickens’ diet can help move them regrow their feathers a bit faster. Good protein sources include meat scraps, meal worms and grubs, sunflower seeds and nuts.
Broody Hens Stop Laying Eggs
When a hen "goes broody", she stops laying eggs and starts sitting on her nest 24/7, trying to hatch them. The broody urge is stronger in some hens/breeds more than others, and once she has decided to sit, she will sit on fertile eggs, non-fertile eggs, or even an empty nest!
Solution
Break the broody as quickly as possible to get her laying again. Remove any eggs other hens lay as quickly as possible. Take her off the nest repeatedly and put her at the far end of your run with some treats to try and entice her to stay outside.
Block the box if she is persistent, often if you block the one box she’s chosen, she won’t move to another box, but instead give up.
If she continues to sit in other boxes, put her in a small crate or cage raising up off the ground on brick without any nesting material. That helps cool her core temperature and break the urge.
Note: If a hen does hatch chicks, she likely will care for them for about five weeks - and then start laying eggs again one she feels they are old enough to be on their own.
Egg Eating Chickens Cause a Reduction in Eggs in Nests
Obviously, egg eating by your chickens will result in a reduction in the eggs left for you to collect. Once one hen starts, other will likely follow. Sometimes an egg will get broken in the nest and that’s what triggers the eating.
Evidence may be seen in the nests in the form of broken eggs or empty shells, but most likely your chickens will eat the entire egg, shell and all, so unless you catch one in the act, you might not realize what is happening at first.
Solution
Stronger shells can prevent broken eggs, which is often how egg eating starts. Providing free-choice crushed eggshell or oyster shell and help. Lots of soft bedding in the nests also helps prevent broken eggs, as does collecting them several times a day.
Putting up curtains across the front of the boxes can also help prevent egg eating by shielding the eggs from prying eyes once they’re laid.
Predators Can Steal Eggs
Not only will many predators,such as snakes, rats and skunks, steal and eat eggs, the mere presence of a predator lurking around your coop or run can stress the hens to the point that they stop laying.
If you have a dog, be sure he’s not the culprit, since lots of dogs love eating eggs!
Solution
Be sure that all vents on your coop are covered with 1/2-inch hardware cloth. Snakes, rats and weasels can all get through a one-inch hole, so block any holes in the coop larger than an inch. Put predator proof locks on the coop and nesting box doors.
Installing solar predator lights will also keep predators at bay and away from your run at night.Egg Bound Hens Stop Laying Eggs
Young hens, hens who consume too much protein or are otherwise not in tip-top condition can become egg bound, meaning an egg gets stuck in their oviduct.
This potentially fatal condition must be caught and treated immediately, so preventing it is your best bet.
Limit treats to about 10% of your chickens’ diet to prevent obesity, feed a good-quality layer feed, offer free-choice calcium to prevent soft-shelled eggs, which often can get stuck, provide plenty of room for your chickens to exercise and contrary to the advice in #1, avoid using supplemental light in your coop.
Not allowing your chickens a break can overwork their reproductive systems leading to laying issues.
Overcrowded Conditions can Stop Chickens from Laying Eggs
Overcrowding in the run and coop can lead to pecking and other stresses that can cause your hens to stop laying.
Solution
Ensure that your coop provides a minimum of 3-5 square feet of floor space per hen and your run provides a minimum of 10 square feet per hen. Those are minimums, the more space you can provide the better.
Additions or Subtractions to the Flock Can Cause a Reduction in Egg Production
Any time you add or take away a hen, the entire pecking order of your flock is upset and (usually minor) adjustments need to be made. Often this can stress the hens so they slow their laying.
Solution
Just bide your time. Once the pecking order is restored, laying will resume naturally. New hens might need some time (usually a few weeks) to get used to their surroundings before they start laying for you.
A Change in the Nesting Area Can Cause Chickens to Stop Laying Eggs
Any change in her nesting area can throw off a hen's laying. Things such as changing out the nesting boxes for a different type, switching the type of nesting material, hanging curtains across your nesting boxes, or moving your flock to a new coop can cause stress and break their routine which will cause a decrease in production.
Solution
Try not to disturb the nesting area unless absolutely necessary and if you need to make several changes, do them all at once.
Illness/Disease Can Make a Chicken Stop Laying Eggs
Chickens are masters at hiding symptoms of illness because any weakness can cause pecking by the other hens in the flock and losing their place in the pecking order, as well as unwanted attention from predators.
Often the first noticeable sign of sickness in a chicken will be the cessation of laying.
Solution
Do regular checkups of your flock and spend lots of time with them so you can recognize any behavior or appearance that’s not normal and act accordingly.
Extreme Heat Can Make Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
Hens lay best in temperatures roughly between 50-75 degrees Fahrenheit. In the heat, chickens reserve their energy and stop laying eggs, which is taxing on their bodies.
Solution
Do your best to help your hens stay cool and comfortable during the summer months, especially if you live in a Southern climate.
This should include lots of shady areas in which to spend their days, an airy coop at night, and water-laden treats like chilled watermelon and cucumbers in addition to plenty of cool, clean water.
Chickens don’t like to drink warm water, so on hot days add frozen water bottles or ice cubes to their water to keep them drinking.
Adding some electrolytes to their water will help replace some of the nutrients the lose, help them handle the heat far better and encourage them to lay.
Extreme Cold Can Also Cause Chickens to Stop Laying Eggs
Although it's mainly the fewer hours of daylight that cause laying to slow or stop in the winter, extremely cold temperatures can likewise cause laying to decline, as the hens use all their energy to stay warm. Chickens are generally cold-hardy, but extreme temperatures below zero can cause laying to stop.
Solution
Use scratch grains as an evening wintertime treat. The act of digesting the grains helps keep the hens warm overnight and maintain their laying. Be sure your coop is draft-free with lots of straw on the floor and straw bales stacked along the coop walls.
Some people say adding cayenne pepper to their feed will boost winter egg production. I’ve not tried that, but cayenne does help improve circulation, so at the very least, it can help prevent frostbite.
Lack of Adequate Ventilation in the Coop Can Cause a Reduction in Egg Production
Ammonia fumes can build up in a coop that is not well-ventilated. That will cause irritation and respiratory illness in a hen and can result in lower egg production.
Solution
The rule of thumb is that 1/5 of your total coop wall space should be vents/windows that can be opened or closed, weather dependent. In the warmers months, all the vents should be left open day and night, but be sure they are covered with 1/2" hardware cloth to deter predators.
Change out the coop bedding regularly and sprinkle lime, wood ash or one of the coop odor control products on the floor of the coop to control the ammonia fumes in between cleanings.
Poor Nutrition Can Cause a Chicken to Stop Laying Eggs
Low-quality feed, a lack of feed, or inadequate calcium or protein supplements can all result in poor nutrition and reduce egg production.
Solution
Ensure your flock is eating a good-quality layer feed and remove moldy or stale feed. Provide a dish of crushed eggshells or oyster shell free choice so each hen can eat what she needs. Provide adequate supplemental protein in the form of dried grubs, meat scraps, fish, sunflower seeds, etc.
Limit treats and only offer them in the afternoon after your flock has filled up on their feed.
Overfeeding Can Make Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
Overfeeding your chickens can lead to a drop in egg production. A diet low in protein will also cause a hens laying to slow.
Solution
Be sure you are feeding a good-quality layer feed to your chickens. Don't overfeed treats. A hen will eat roughly 1/2 of feed per day and won't overeat their feed - it's treats that are the problem.
Limit treats to healthy choices such as garden trimmings, leafy greens, sunflower seeds, nuts, whole grains, lean meat scraps, and fish. And only offer treats in the afternoon after your chickens have filled up on their feed.
Lack of Adequate Water Can Make Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
An egg is roughly 75% water. If a chicken goes without access to fresh, clean, cool water for even a few hours, that can lead to an immediate reduction in egg production.
Solution
Be sure to provide plenty of water for your chickens and change it regularly. Scrub out the waterers with a white vinegar/water mix regularly and add a splash of apple cider vinegar to the water a few times a week to prevent algae and bacteria from forming.
If you have a large flock or will be away at work all day, consider putting out several waterers in case one gets knocked over, the more dominant hens chase the more docile hens away from the water, or the water gets dirtied with feces.
Free Ranging Can Make Chickens Stop Laying Eggs in Their Nesting Boxes
If you allow your flock to free range all day, there's a good chance that they are going off to lay their eggs and hiding them (or something like a crow, snake, rat or skunk is finding and eating them).
Although a hen's natural instinct is to lay her eggs in a secluded, safe spot to keep them safe from predators.
Solution
Because most hens lay their eggs in the morning hours, try keeping your flock penned up a bit later in the morning so they will be forced to lay their eggs when you can find them - inside the chicken coop.
Sometimes Chickens Like Hiding Eggs
Even in an enclosed run, hens will sometimes quit laying in the nesting boxes and instead start hiding their eggs in an effort to collect a 'clutch' to sit on and hatch.
Last summer, our egg production went down, and I thought it was the heat until I found their "stash" of 14 eggs half-buried under a bush in the run!
Solution
Chickens like to find out-of-the-way places to lay their eggs, so check under and behind bushes, shrubs, anything else you have in your run they could use as cover.
Sometimes you have to learn to choose your battles, and if I find our chickens starting to lay elsewhere than the coop, I will set up an outdoor nesting box or basket for them.
As long as it's out of the way and they're happy, at least I know where to check for missing eggs. Often in the summer, when it’s hot, the chickens would rather stay outside and lay their eggs where it’s cooler.
If your chickens suddenly stop using their nesting boxes, it’s always a good idea to clean out the boxes and check them for mites, mice or snakes - all of which can stop hens from laying in the boxes.
A Chicken's Age will Cause a Reduction in Egg Production
A hen lays best during the first two to four years of her life. Her productivity will drop after that, but well-cared for, healthy hens can continue to lay for years after that, although at a far slower pace.
Solution
Continuing to add new chicks or pullets to your flock each spring ensures a constant supply of hens at prime egg-laying age.
Stress Can Cause a Chicken to Stop Laying Eggs
A calm, stress-free hen is a good laying hen. Any stresser, such as a barking dog, traffic noise, being bullied by another hen, children chasing them, etc. can cause a drop in production.
Solution
Remember, a hen is laying her egg with the ultimate goal of it hatching into a chick. She won't be happy laying in an environment she doesn't feel is safe for a chick to grow up.
Try to reduce any outside stresses as much as possible and create a calm oasis for your hens. Adding some dried lavender, chamomile and other calming herbs is thought to help.
Before you despair and start to think that getting a hen to actually lay an egg is about as rare as a blue moon, remember that she is programmed to lay an egg about once every 26 hours.
She WANTS to lay that egg. So anything you can do to make it easier for her and to help her in that venture is going to quickly result in increased productivity.