Few things are more frustrating than walking out to the coop expecting a basket of eggs… only to find empty nesting boxes. Don’t panic — your hens aren’t broken! There are a handful of common reasons why chickens stop laying, and most of them are easy to fix.
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1. 🕐 Age Matters
- Young pullets (under 5–6 months) may not be mature enough yet.
- Older hens (3+ years) naturally slow down or stop laying altogether.
👉 Fix: Be patient with pullets, and consider adding new layers each year to keep egg production steady.
2. 🌞 Daylight Hours
Chickens need 14–16 hours of daylight to maintain strong laying cycles. As days shorten in fall and winter, egg production drops.
👉 Fix: Add a safe coop light with a timer to extend daylight during winter months.
3. 🍽️ Nutrition Issues
Low-quality feed, lack of calcium, or too many treats can shut down egg production.
👉 Fix:
- Feed a layer ration (16–18% protein) like Purina Layena Crumbles
- Offer free-choice oyster shell for calcium Manna Pro Oyster Shell
- Keep grit available to aid digestion Mann Pro Poultry Grit
4. 🪹 Stress in the Flock
Predator scares, overcrowding, bullying, or frequent coop changes can stress hens into a laying strike.
👉 Fix:
- Give 4 sq. ft. per bird inside and 10 sq. ft. outside.
- Reduce stress by adding nest box curtains or poultry toys/pecking blocks
5. 🐓 Molting Season
Once a year, hens shed old feathers and grow new ones. During this molting period (6–8 weeks), egg production usually stops.
👉 Fix: Switch to a high-protein feed or supplement with dried mealworms to support feather regrowth.
6. 🦠 Illness or Parasites
Chickens battling mites, worms, or illness will often stop laying.
👉 Fix:
- Check under feathers for mites/lice. Treat with fresh coop odor control.
- Keep the coop clean and consider regular worming if needed.
7. 🥚 Hidden Nests
Sometimes your hens are laying — just not in the nest box you provided.
👉 Fix: Confine free-range hens until late morning so they lay in the coop. For easy egg collection, upgrade to roll-away nesting boxes that prevent egg hiding and breaking.
✅ Final Thoughts
Egg shortages happen to even the best chicken keepers. By checking age, diet, light, stress, and health, you can usually solve the problem quickly. Remember — a happy, well-fed hen will reward you with plenty of fresh eggs.
💡 Pro tip: Keep a simple egg production log Printable Chicken Egg Log to track laying habits and spot issues early.