11 Common Reasons Why Chickens Stop Laying Eggs (And How to Fix It) (2024)

Today we're going to look at why chickens stop laying and how to start laying again.

There are a number of different reasons why they stop laying eggs.

Some are easy to identify, while other causes are difficult to identify.

Making an egg is a complex processwhich takes between 23 and 26 hours. During that time, anything that shocks or startles the bird can cause accidents.

In our article we will share 11 common reasons why your chicken has stopped laying eggs and how to fix it...

11. Annual molting

Chickens will stop laying eggs during their molt.

Moulting is a very stressful event for chickens. It takes enormous amounts of protein to replace their old feathers with new ones.

During this time, the chicken's body cannot support itselfgrowth of new feathersand egg laying, so something has to happen – in this case it's egg laying!

Some chickens thaw faster and are ready very quickly, while others take some time.

But on average it takes about 16 weeks.

Solution: You can help your flock by increasing the amount of protein you give them. Change their food to 20% protein or higher during molting.

Protein-rich treats such as mealworms, cat food, fish pellets and tuna in water also help. There is no way to speed up the melting process, so you have to let nature take its course.

10. Reduced daylight

The laying speed of chicken eggs is influenced by the number of hours of daylight they receive.

Chickens need a good one12 hours of daylightto maintain their egg laying. 14-16 hours of daylight keeps her in top production.

In the late fall and winter months, daylight is of utmost importance here in northern climates - this is the time of molting and reduced egg laying. Once the girls have finished molting, the hours of daylight are usually not enough to start the production of their egg machines.

This is Mother Nature's time for rest and regeneration.

In the spring, daylight hours begin to lengthen and your chickens begin to lay eggs again.

Solution: If you want to dominate nature and let your chickens lie down for the winter months, add a light.

A sixty-watt light bulb is enough to get them going again.

Make sure you add the light at the beginning of the day rather than the end, otherwise your chicks may be thrown into darkness before they have slept. You should put your light on a timer so you can adjust the hours accordingly.

9. Age

Sometimes your chickens stop laying becausethey have reached an old age.

The age at which chickens stop laying eggs will vary per breed.

For example, some hybrids (such as Red Rangers and Golden Comets) only last about 2-3 years at best. Selective breeding has increased annual egg production, but unfortunately has reduced the life expectancy of these breeds.

On the other hand, varieties (such as Faverolles, Minorcasa Leghorn) remains valid for a maximum of 5 years.

The annual volume may not be as large as that of the hybrids, but the overall life expectancy is much longer.

Solution: There is no cure for aging! It is best to add a few chickens to your flock each year to maintain overall egg production.

8. Salpingitis

Salpingitis is an inflammation of a chicken's oviduct.

it isusually caused by a bacterial infectionand the most common culprits are: Mycoplasma gallisepticum, Escherichia coli, Salmonella or Pasteurella multocida.

The symptoms are usually difficult to recognize, but hens with salpingitis usually lay hatched eggs first and then start laying them.

A laid egg is not actually an egg, but a collection of dead tissue and solid pus, laid by the chicken – very dirty!

Solution: If you catch the infection early enough, it can be successfully treated by a vet. Unfortunately, the infection is usually only discovered after the chicken has laid a hatching egg or perhaps died.

You should always source birds from a reputable source to avoid introducing certain organisms, such as salmonella, into your flock.

7. Predator attacks

If a chicken is attacked by a predator (or seriously startled), she will likely stop laying eggs for a while.

This is usually a stress response, similar to a post-traumatic stress response. If you have ever experienced a very traumatic event, you will understand that the body needs time to adjust to normality after a shocking event. This reaction occurs regardless of whether the chicken has suffered physical harm or not.

Solution: After the attack, place the chicken in a quiet and dark environment with some food and water. If she is injured, treat the wounds accordingly.

She will need time, patience and lots of reassurance from you. You must do that as quickly as possibleintegrate her with the pack. Otherwise she would have to go through the pecking order again, and that doesn't help.

Some chickens start laying eggs again quickly, but some chickens take several weeks before they can start laying again.

6. Malnutrition

When you think of malnutrition, you usually think of emaciated, starving birds.

But overweight chickens are also malnourished, just in a different way.

Malnutrition is the imbalance in the diet (too much or too little). To keep your chickens in good condition and laying eggs, they need a balanced diet.

A simple and easy way to tell if your chicken is too heavy or too light is to pick her up and feel her keel (breastbone).

This extends halfway down her chest.

If it is too thin it will feel like it is sticking out, while if it is too thick you may have difficulty locating the keel.

Solution: You should use specially formulated feed for your chickens.

The poultry industry has spent years and millions of dollars perfecting chicken feed.

To keep your flock healthy, you should use feed from the industry. If you prefer, you can buy organic food, although it costs a little more.

Some people still like to mix their own poultry rations, and that's fine as long as you know what you're doing.

In addition to food, you can also give them treats, as long as they are not overfed. Healthy treats such as greens and grains are good to feed your flock, but they should get about 90% of their nutritional needs from their feed. This balance keeps them laying eggs.

5. Hot weather

During the winter months we always worry about our flock.

Will they be warm enough? What about frostbite and all the other little things that come with it?

But chickens actually have more problems with the heat than with the cold.

If conditions become too warm for your chickens, they will lay less. This is a physiological response to environmental stress.

• The ideal laying temperature is 65-75°F.
• At 85-90°F the size and quality of the eggs begin to decline.
• Above 30°C they may stop laying eggs altogether to reduce the stress on their bodies.
• If your temperature rises above 40°C, start emergency cooling, as overheating and death are a very real threat.

Solution: It is not always possible to keep the temperature where you want it, but you should keep them cool.

Shade is important, plenty of clean fresh water, fans (placed safely), frozen treats and water sprinklers all help keep them cool and laying eggs.

4. Dehydration

Water is essential for life and nothing can survive without water.

Your chickens need clean, fresh water every day – that's possible toouse automatic watering.

Winter time can be a problem if you do not have hot drinking water. You need to make sure they have enough water to drink throughout the day.

The summer heat is cruel to chickens.

They don't sweat like we do, but use their crest, claws and feet along with panting to keep the heat down.

Please note that water consumption can double in summer, so keep an eye on this. You can also add electrolyte powder to the drinking water to help your birds maintain their electrolyte balance. This is very important if you want them to continue laying eggs.

Solution: Make sure your chickens always have access to fresh water.

In the winter months you can use heated drinking water. They may be a little expensive, but they will last several years and are worth their weight in gold in my opinion.

3. Surplus

To have oneoverly amorous co*ckand too few chickens is a recipe for stress and injury.

Chickens that are constantly bothered by a rooster will become nervous, perhaps abandon the feed, hide and stop laying eggs.

If you want the rooster to reproduce, that's fine, but he does need a schedule.

Solution: If you want your rooster to reproduce, set a schedule: give him one or two days a week to do his duty, then he will get stuck.

This gives the hens time to recover and go about their business without being mated at every opportunity they get.

If he causes physical harm to your chickens, saddle them. This prevents wear and tear on their feathers and skin.

2. Stress

Stress is something we humans know!

And that also applies to your chickens.

They can worry about anything: change of food, change of routine, new additions to the pack, too hot, too cold!

When chickens are stressed, they may run away from food, lay eggs in strange places, or not lay eggs at all.

Overall, it's usually a pretty big stressor, causing some to be unable to lay eggs for a while.

The following stressors can all cause a temporary stop in egg laying.

• New additions to the package.
• Moving to a new loft.
• Predator attack.
• Too amorous dicks.

Solution: Try to keep a routine with your chickens – the less change the better.

If they have stopped laying, take a good look at the situation and ask yourself: what has changed? It may take some digging, but you can usually figure out what the problem is.

1. Parasites

A chicken that is overrun with lice or mites will not only suffer from discomfort, but also from a lot of stress.

As we know miteswill suck blood and a large infestation can make a bird weak and anemic.

The discomfort of the situation may be enough to stop egg laying and also cause her to become anemic.

Solution: You should check your herd regularly and treat attacks as you see them, or regularly. If the chicken is infected, treat it again after seven days to kill any new insects.

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Then you know the most common reasons why a chicken stops laying eggs.

Some of these are physical and others there is not much you can do about it.

Although we have discussed stress here, the list of stressors is not a comprehensive list. You have to know your herd quite well to discover what the stressor might be.

For example, my chickens have never known anyone but me. So when a friend or stranger passes by, they become invisible. Other people just don't do them.

To some extent, the breeds you choose will determine how they respond. Mediterranean breeds are known to be flighty and nervous when racinglike Orpington'sand the Rhode Island Reds are less likely to immediately become nervous wrecks.

We hope this has been helpful and given you some ideas on how to get your chickens to lay eggs again.

Let us know in the comments below...