Why Has My Local Farmer’s Chickens Stopped Laying Eggs?
I NEED MY EGGS!!!
I hear you. Believe me I do. There are many reasons that hens stopped laying, and when you are used to buying eggs from the supermarket where there is a ready supply, you may not realize that there is a natural cycle to egg laying.
Here are a few reasons why your local farmer might be having a reduction in egg production. As always, I encourage you to talk to the farmer and get to know him/her and their chickens. Believe it or not this happens to everyone and is not unusual.
- Shorter day light hours-To lay eggs, your chickens need plenty of natural daylight- at least 14 hours a day and 16 hours is even better. So as fall and winter approach, egg production will dwindle with the day light hours. Producing eggs is a tough business for them. This slow down, gives the hens a chance to rest and recover.
- New additions to the flock– Perhaps your farmer has added new chickens to the flock. You will have to ask him/her. Like the rest of us, chickens love their routine. Any disruption in this can cause them to slow down their production. They will be taking time to establish a new “pecking order” and getting to know each other.
- Old Age: Chickens do not lay forever, as much as we would love them to. They will lay later in life, but production starts to drop off around three years of age. Most farmers will route their hens out around age 3-4.
- Molting: Did you know that chickens will shed their feathers? Chickens molt each year and it can take around 6 to 12 weeks for them to grow back new feathers- during this time period they will not lay eggs.
- Stress-Just like you and I, there are things that can stress out a hen; and just like you and me, when we are stressed, we don’t function as well. There are a number of things that can stress out a chicken.
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- Hot weather-Every year, as the summer gets hotter, our egg production drops some. We provide lots of shade, and water , but constant 95 degree weather takes its toll. Then as the weather starts to cool off, the days get shorter and they begin to molt. Ugh!
- Predators-Chickens everywhere often struggle with predators. From raccoons to opossums to snakes and raptors, there is always something to be a concern. We have struggled with hawks killing our chickens and snakes eating the eggs. This year it has been two 4-5 foot snakes that have been eating the eggs and frightening the hens.
- Illness-Farmers love their brood, but sometimes they do get sick. You will have to discuss with your egg provider how they treat for worms and other illness. We give all of our chickens apple cider vinegar and garlic water for a seven to ten days straight, every month. The also get a herb mixture as well that helps with internal parasites.
When you visit your local farm, ask if you can see how the chickens are raised.
Is the area clean?
Do they have a lot of area to roam and be chickens?
Is the coop clean?
Do they have fresh water?
As always, we welcome you to stop by and visit with us and the hens!