Hens Not Filling the Egg Basket? Here’s a Few Reasons Why
First of all, don’t panic, egg production changes for many reasons, and they aren’t all bad, so let’s narrow it down and take a look at all the different scenarios. We’ll start with the most common reasons.
Molting
Every year your chickens will molt, in other words, lose their feathers and grow new ones. Unfortunately, it also means most hens won’t lay eggs until their molt cycle is done. However, there are variations to that rule. The molting process is fully explained HERE.
The Broody Hen
When a hen is broody, it means she wants to hatch eggs and raise chicks. Some breeds are more broody than others, for instance, Silkies. When a hen decides to go broody, there is little you can do to change her mind! She’ll stay in her nest and sit on her eggs, other bird’s eggs, or nothing at all! Remember, just because you don’t have a rooster, doesn’t mean your hen won’t go broody. A hen will become broody and sit on eggs whether they’re fertilized or not.
The pic below is a broody Silkie, notice how she has a flattened appearance or looks spread out. That’s a classic look for a broody hen. Unfortunately, she will not lay eggs during this time. More Information.
Seasonal
As the days become shorter it is a signal that winter is on its way. It’s natural for hens to lay only a couple of eggs per week in the winter months, sometimes none at all. Hot weather can also affect egg production, here in Phoenix, production can slow or even stop when the heat becomes extreme. Summer Heat Tips.
Stress
If you move your birds, add new birds, or anything that has changed their routine, is a good enough reason to take time off from laying eggs. Sometimes a predator scare can upset a flock and they’ll stop laying for a week or more. Another important factor is your bird’s feed. Make sure they’re consuming quality feed, and I don’t mean chicken scratch. Protein and calcium are essential.
Chickens need adequate space, overcrowding makes for unhappy birds, and this is especially important, why? Because happy hens fill the egg basket! One more thing, pests can also cause a stressful environment, so make sure your birds are not bothered by mites.
Sickness
A sick hen will not lay, ever. All I can tell you about that is to look for the most common signs of illness. Watery eyes, droopy tail, Hen doesn’t leave the nest, coughing, diarrhea, etc. A sick bird is pretty obvious and should be isolated from the flock immediately.
Let’s Not Leave Out the Inevitable…Age
Unfortunately, all hens reach the age when they no longer lay eggs. Of course, some continue to surprise us with an egg well after their productive years. It may surprise you to learn that hens usually only lay eggs until they’re around 3 years old. Their first 2 years are the most productive, then, fewer and fewer as time passes. Except for those special ladies that don’t agree with that statement, and I’ve had a few!
TBN Ranch Chicken Keeping Resources 