Chicken farmers often complain that at some point, their birds stopped laying eggs. Such a concern is normal unless you are okay rearing a flock for meat. If you are no longer collecting eggs like you used to do, you will want to know the reason behind it and whether egg laying can return to normal.
Note that egg production can stop due to natural responses. However, sometimes it could be due to some reasons you can correct and get your hens back into egg laying.
Here are the reasons why chickens often stop laying eggs.
Nutrition
Chickens require a balanced diet for good egg production. You should provide them with energy-giving sources, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Sources of energy include maize and its by-products such as chenga, maize germ, and maize bran, and wheat and its by-products e.g., broken wheat, wheat bran, etc. Examples of commonly used protein sources in Kenya include ochonga, omena, black soldier fly larva, etc.
Chicken can obtain vitamins from vegetables as they scavenge outside. However, you can purchase vitamin supplements from input stores especially if you have a confined flock. Minerals are important for laying birds for eggshell formation. Common sources of minerals include limestone and crushed eggshells.
Complete layer feeds often come formulated to provide everything your chickens need in the right amounts. However, you may still need to supplement the complete feeds with protein and calcium to ensure good egg production.
Old Age
The egg-laying period usually kicks off at around 18 to 20 weeks (4.5 to 5 months) of age. Your bird will continue laying eggs at an increasing rate until they reach 28 weeks (seven months). At 28 weeks, the egg-laying flock will be at its peak production.
From 29 weeks to 52 weeks (13 months), your birds will maintain a peak performance provided you manage the nutrition and health aspects of the birds properly. Finally, egg production will gradually decline between 53 weeks to 80 weeks (20 months).
On average, you will have collected about 320-330 eggs per bird. Beyond the 80th week, your chickens will be on the path of retiring. If you are seeing a decline in egg production, it could be the birds are in this phase.
Broodiness
When your chickens go broody, they want to incubate eggs and have their chicks. They often consume less food and water than normal and their body temperature increases during this period. Broody hens won’t lay hens and will develop some signs including sitting in the nest for long periods, removing breast feathers, and becoming aggressive when you try to get near the eggs. During this period, your chickens will stop laying eggs unless you stop them from going broody.
Stress
Chickens are sensitive to stressful conditions and can stop laying eggs due to that. Stressors can be loud noises, poor nutrition, illness, extreme weather, predators, overcrowding, introduction of new flock members, aggressive hens, etc. If you want to maintain high egg production, you must ensure your chickens are in a comfortable environment. Here’s how to overcome some of the stressors:
Predators
The presence of predators can instill fear in chickens so bad that they stop laying eggs. You can predator-proof the poultry house on doors and windows to protect your birds from predators and keep them out of sight.
Extreme Temperatures
Extreme cold or hot weather could also lead to a drop in egg production. you can insulate the poultry house or add supplement heat during cold periods to raise the temperatures. When it is hot, ensure there is enough drinking water in the coop.
Abrupt Change in Routine
Birds love routine and abrupt changes to what they have been used to could make them go off lay. For instance, if you move them to a new location they may stop laying until they get used to the new location.
Bringing New Chickens
Introducing new flock members also disrupts their routine and may lead to a halt in egg laying. However, they can go back to their normal egg-laying patterns when they get used to each other.
Diseases and Parasites
Fighting diseases can also affect egg production in chickens. The bird directs a lot of energy into battling the illness. If you detect some terrible symptoms in your flock, contact your local vet.
Intestinal worms compete with the chickens’ egg production system for nutrients. If your poultry has high intestinal worm infestation, inadequate nutrients go to egg production since the worms are consuming their part. Therefore, you need to deworm as recommended by your vet.
Besides, parasite infestation can cause a decline in egg production. Examples of parasites that affect chickens are lice and mites. These little creatures cause itching and discomfort in birds which contributes to reduced egg production. You can control the problem by spraying or applying treatments recommended by your local vet.
When Your Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
If your chickens have stopped laying eggs, it could be due to different reasons. It could be something you can spot and fix immediately. But sometimes you may need to do some investigations and take the right interventions.
2 Comments
This information was very essential for me. I rear dairy cattle and keeps poultry. Thank you.
Hi Esther
Thank you for the feedback