Hi everyone, welcome to my channel where I share tips and tricks on how to raise healthy and happy chickens. Today, we are going to talk about a common problem that many chicken keepers face: why your chickens aren't laying eggs and how to fix it.
Eggs are one of the main reasons why we keep chickens, right? They are delicious, nutritious, and fresh. But sometimes, our chickens stop laying eggs or lay fewer eggs than usual. This can be frustrating and worrying, especially if we don't know the reason behind it.
Well, don't worry, because in this video, I'm going to tell you 9 reasons why your chickens might have stopped laying eggs and what you can do to get them back on track. Let's get started!
1. Age
The first reason why your chickens might not be laying eggs is their age. Chickens usually start laying eggs when they are about 6 months old, but this can vary depending on the breed and the season. They reach their peak production when they are about 2 years old, and then they gradually decline as they get older. By the time they are 4 or 5 years old, they might stop laying eggs altogether or lay very sporadically.
There is not much you can do to change this natural process, but you can make sure that your older hens are comfortable and happy in their retirement. You can also introduce some younger hens to your flock to keep up the egg supply.
2. Diet
The second reason why your chickens might not be laying eggs is their diet. Chickens need a balanced diet that provides them with enough protein, calcium, vitamins, and minerals to produce eggs. If they are not getting enough of these nutrients, their egg production will suffer.
To fix this, you need to feed your chickens a high-quality layer feed that contains at least 16% protein and 3% calcium. You can also supplement their diet with some high-protein snacks such as mealworms, pumpkin seeds, or black soldier fly larvae¹. And don't forget to provide them with fresh water at all times.
3. Daylight
The third reason why your chickens might not be laying eggs is the amount of daylight they get. Chickens need at least 14 hours of daylight per day to stimulate their hormones and trigger egg-laying². During the winter months, when the days are shorter and darker, your chickens might stop laying eggs or lay fewer eggs than usual.
To fix this, you can either let nature take its course and wait for the spring to come, or you can artificially extend the daylight hours by using a timer and a light bulb in your coop. Just make sure that the light is not too bright or too close to the chickens, and that they still have a period of darkness at night to rest.
4. Stress
The fourth reason why your chickens might not be laying eggs is stress. Chickens are sensitive animals that can get stressed by various factors such as predators, loud noises, extreme temperatures, overcrowding, parasites, diseases, or changes in their environment or routine³. Stress can affect their immune system and their reproductive system, causing them to stop laying eggs or lay abnormal eggs.
To fix this, you need to identify the source of stress and eliminate it or reduce it as much as possible. You also need to provide your chickens with a safe and comfortable coop that has enough space, ventilation, nesting boxes, roosts, and bedding. You also need to keep your chickens healthy by checking them regularly for signs of illness or injury and treating them accordingly.
5. Molt
The fifth reason why your chickens might not be laying eggs is molt. Molt is a natural process that happens once or twice a year, usually in the fall or winter⁴. During molt, chickens shed their old feathers and grow new ones. This takes a lot of energy and resources from their body, so they stop laying eggs temporarily until they finish molting.
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5 ноя 2023
