Laying eggs: why a hen does not lay eggs
It is always worrying when our chickens suddenly stop laying. The first sign of a problem for your girls is when they stop laying eggs. When chickens lack something, they need egg production to be the first thing their bodies turn off to make up for what they lack. Most of the time it is an easy solution, is the cooperative clean? Are you feeding the right food? Sometimes it can be more complicated, are my babies sick or molting? Let’s take a look at common problems and see what it takes to make girls happy again.
Age:
Chickens have a 7-year lifespan and are at their best for the first year or two of laying eggs, then production declines rapidly until the fourth or fifth year, when they usually stop laying altogether. It is generally best to replace the laying hen with a new one after its third year of egg laying.
Habitat:
Chickens are creatures of habit, sometimes the slightest change can get rid of them. Moving your chickens from one location to another, adding new features or space can stress them out. They will not lie down again until they feel relaxed and comfortable again. Even a dirty pen or chicken coop could throw them away, unsanitary conditions are the best way for birds to contract unwanted diseases, especially if the space is too small.
Food / Water:
A dehydrated hen cannot produce eggs, make sure there is always water available for your hens. The use of nipple drinkers helps conserve water and keeps the chicken coop clean. To produce an egg, his daughters need a special diet of calcium and protein. This type of feed is called “layer feed” and it comes in many different varieties from different food or pet stores. Chickens will overeat, so control feeding based on the number of chickens.
Health:
Did the chicken get melancholic? A broody hen will not lay until she has finished hatching her eggs. The girls won’t go to bed when they move either. Molting is when chickens are losing their feathers due to changes in the weather. It is the same as when a dog sheds its coat, except that the chicken sheds its feathers. Mites put a lot of pressure on a hen’s body, she is miserable and will not lie down for you. A good sign that your hen is sick or not feeling well is her posture. If you are hunched over instead of standing and cheerful, you are not feeling well and have problems that you probably need help with.
Stress:
If a hen is stressed, she will not lie down, she needs to feel comfortable. Too many roosters can easily put stress on your daughters. Is there a predator around? He is afraid? Keep your daughters happy, safe, and fed, and she will provide you with plenty of eggs to come. Some birds are better layers than others, such as the Orpington chicken which was bread for maximum laying capacity.
