Emily Carter
There are several reasons why chickens in a chicken house may not lay eggs. One of the most common reasons is insufficient light during the winter months, when daylight hours are shorter. Chickens require 12 to 16 hours of light to produce eggs, and when exposed to less light, their egg production decreases or stops. Additionally, factors such as stress, poor nutrition, molting, and age can contribute to a decline in egg-laying. Chickens also have a limited number of eggs they can lay in their lifetime, and their productivity naturally decreases with age. Providing a nutritionally balanced diet, ensuring adequate light exposure, and reducing stress factors can help address some of these issues and promote egg-laying in chickens.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Light | Chickens need 12-16 hours of light to lay eggs. Shortened sunlight hours in winter are a common reason for decreased egg production. |
| Nutrition | Hens need a nutritionally balanced diet with at least 90% of their nutrition coming from complete feed. A lack of calcium and protein can lead to decreased egg production. |
| Molting | Molting is a natural process of feather loss and regrowth that occurs annually, usually in autumn. During this time, chickens redirect their energy from laying eggs to growing feathers, resulting in decreased egg production. |
| Age | Older hens will lay fewer eggs. After their peak production in the first year, the number of eggs produced declines until they retire. |
| Stress | Negative stress from factors such as weather changes, illness, or social structure alterations can contribute to decreased egg production. |
| Disease | Illnesses, including mites and lice, can cause chickens to slow down or stop egg production as they focus on fighting the ailment. |
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What You'll Learn
Hens need 12-16 hours of light to lay eggs
The amount of light a chicken receives in a day can have a significant impact on its egg-laying habits. In nature, when most birds sense that the days are getting shorter, their bodies stop producing the hormones necessary for egg production. This is why, in the winter, chickens tend to lay fewer eggs.
Hens will begin laying when the amount of daylight reaches 14 hours per day during early spring. Maximum egg laying will occur when the day length reaches 16 hours per day. This means that, in the Northern Hemisphere, September through March will have diminished daylight hours, and hens will likely not lay as many eggs. In the Southern Hemisphere, March through September will have shorter daylight hours.
To increase egg production, poultry owners can manipulate the egg-laying cycle by providing artificial lighting in coops. Supplemental lighting should be at a low intensity, just bright enough to read a newspaper at bird level, and should be applied in the morning hours so that birds naturally roost. It is important to note that the light should not be on past dark in the evening, as hens may have trouble getting to a roost before it suddenly turns off, as chickens have very poor night vision. Lights should be placed above feeders and waterers, and there should be few areas in the hen house that are shaded from the light.
When implementing artificial lighting, it is important to increase light exposure gradually. Start by increasing light exposure by one hour each week until you reach a maximum of 14 to 16 hours of light per day. It is also important to avoid drastic changes in their light and dark schedule, as this can be stressful and even dangerous for the animals.
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Poor nutrition can cause a decrease in egg production
Hens need certain nutrients for consistent health and performance. Calcium is the most critical for laying hens; she must consume four grams of calcium each day. Hens also require adequate protein levels. Complete layer feeds are formulated to provide everything hens need in the correct amounts. However, if hens are provided with too many treats, then those nutrients become diluted. A general rule to follow is the 90/10 rule, which means the hen’s diet should be made of at least 90 percent complete feed.
In addition to calcium and protein, hens require a sensitive balance of dietary salt. Excess dietary salt intake causes wet droppings and wet litter and can reduce egg production. Similarly, the ratio of dietary calcium to phosphorus affects the absorption of both elements; an excess of either one can impede absorption and reduce egg production.
Over-treating and over-supplementing hens can also cause a decrease in egg production. Added treats and scraps can dilute the nutrients in a complete layer feed, making it harder for hens to produce eggs consistently.
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Chickens experience a natural fall in egg production during winter
Chickens experience a natural fall in egg production during the winter months. This is due to a number of factors, including shortened daylight hours, moulting, and stress.
Daylight Hours
Hens need 12-16 hours of light in order to lay their eggs. In normal daylight conditions (14 hours), hens usually lay their eggs before 3 pm. After they lay, the process of developing the next egg starts within about 45 minutes. When the days become shorter, chickens don't lay as many eggs.
Moulting
Moulting is the process of shedding old feathers and growing new ones, which can take weeks or even months. It takes a lot of energy, so when hens moult, they redirect their energy from egg-laying to feather growth. Moulting usually occurs in autumn and is associated with a decrease in egg production.
Stress
Negative stress, such as changes in weather, illness, or changes in the flock's social structure, can lead to reduced egg production.
Other Factors
Other factors that can contribute to decreased egg production include improper nutrition, disease, advancing age, and cold temperatures.
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Stress can cause chickens to lay fewer eggs
Chickens can stop laying eggs for a variety of reasons, and stress is one of them. A chicken's stress can come in many forms, including the fear of predators, over-crowding, aggressive hens, loud noises, too much heat or cold, poor nutrition, and illness.
The biggest stressor a chicken will face in its life is the constant looming fear of predators. Even the cuddliest chicken is always on alert for danger. Other stressors include over-treating and over-supplementing hens, which can dilute the nutrients in their feed, making them less able to produce eggs consistently.
Chickens also experience stress during the commercial hatching process, which includes incubation, hatching, and processing. This stress has been shown to negatively impact egg production, with commercially hatched chickens laying fewer and smaller eggs than those hatched and handled under calm circumstances.
To reduce stress in chickens, it is important to provide a safe and secure environment, minimize exposure to predators, and ensure proper nutrition and living conditions.
Additionally, molting, or the annual period of feather loss and regrowth, can also cause a decrease in egg production. During molting, chickens redirect their energy from laying eggs to growing new feathers, resulting in a brief break from egg production.
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Chickens need calcium to lay eggs
Chickens may stop laying eggs due to light, stress, poor nutrition, molt, or age. One of the most critical nutrients for egg-laying hens is calcium. An adult hen over the age of 18 weeks needs between 4 and 5 grams of calcium per day to produce strong eggshells. Calcium is stored in the medullary cavity of the hen's bones and is released into the bloodstream during eggshell formation. This triggers the kidneys to conserve calcium and draw it from the diet. Oyster shell grit or limestone chips/flour can be offered separately to ensure adequate calcium intake.
Calcium plays a vital role in the health and productivity of a flock. In addition to eggshell formation, calcium is necessary for the circulatory, nervous, cardiac, and digestive systems. A hen may become egg-bound or lay eggs with soft shells if she does not have access to sufficient calcium. A calcium-deficient diet can also lead to osteoporosis and weak leg bones, resulting in poor egg production.
To meet their calcium requirements, hens can be provided with crushed eggshells, which they naturally eat in the wild. Preparing eggshell supplements involves baking the shells at 300 degrees for about 5 minutes to eliminate bacteria and alter the flavour. Oyster shells are another option, as they are more appetizing than larger rocks and do not carry the risk of chickens developing a taste for their own eggs.
It is important to note that a balanced diet is crucial for hens. While calcium is essential, it should be provided in conjunction with other nutrients like phosphorous, zinc, magnesium, manganese, and vitamin D3. Over-treating and over-supplementing hens with treats and scraps can dilute the nutrients in their complete layer feed, impacting their ability to produce eggs consistently.
Additionally, the amount of calcium in a hen's diet should be carefully considered. While adult hens require higher amounts of calcium, young chicks and growing birds under 18 weeks of age should be fed a diet with a calcium content of 1% or below. Excess calcium can be harmful to their kidneys, and a balanced ratio of calcium to phosphorous is critical for shell health.
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