Why are my chickens no longer laying eggs?

Your hen is not laying or no longer laying? Here are the causes that can explain why you cannot find an egg in your henhouse. With all these measures and precautions, you should quickly find eggs in your henhouse.

1. Your chickens may be too young or too old

We don't necessarily think about it at first glance but there is an age when a hen begins to lay eggs, depending on the variety of hen, from the age of 4 or 5 months. In certain breeds, the age of beginning of laying is shifted to 8 months.
If there is a beginning for the age of laying, there is also one for the end. If your chickens are no longer laying eggs, it may simply be because they are too old. Laying begins to decline from the second year and at the age of 8, a hen lays 5 eggs per week during the two summer months only.

2. Your chickens may be suffering from the heat or the cold

If it's summer and your pullets are no longer laying eggs, check if they are too hot. Indeed, excessive heat negatively affects egg laying. In winter, it is normal for chickens to lay less often, but if they have stopped laying altogether, it is possible that they are too cold. Good to know: chickens suffer more from heat than from cold.

3. Check their diet

Laying is an activity that requires energy. To be able to lay eggs, your chickens need suitable food. They need a good supply of nutrients, vitamins, minerals, proteins and calcium to build the shell. Make sure you feed them well.

4. Is their chicken coop suitable?

A nesting box is necessary for a hen to lay her eggs. Ideally, it should be separate from the sleeping area. Place a wooden egg there to tell your chickens that this is where they should lay their eggs.

5. It might be a brooding problem

Basically, if it is fertilized by a rooster, the egg will produce a chick after a few weeks of incubation. If you have a rooster, there is nothing alarming about your hen going brooding, on the contrary it is completely normal. On the other hand, if you do not have a rooster and your hen shows signs of brooding or couvade, you will have to act because she can remain brooding for weeks and no longer lay eggs and become weak. To prevent it from brooding, you can isolate it for two days. When she returns to the henhouse, it will mean that her brooding is over. You can also introduce a chick to stop the couvade. Proceed at night, while the hen is sleeping. The chick will have time to take in its scent and will be accepted. You can also introduce a duckling. Certain varieties of chicken are renowned for being excellent brooders, think about this when making your choice. Finally, remove the eggs regularly.

6. Don't forget to fight pests and diseases

We know that parasites ruin our lives and tire us out. For our pullets, it's the same. Remember to deworm them and fight against red lice, chewing lice and mites. Inspect your chickens' feathers regularly to check that parasites are not hiding there. Also clean the chicken coop regularly. Sprinkle your pullets and the henhouse with food grade Diatomaceous Earth powder. it is an effective way to fight parasites.
Twice a week, especially at the end of winter, consider giving your gallinaceae a treatment of organic cider vinegar to protect them against diseases. The use of apple cider vinegar is wide, it is also a good disinfectant for your chicken coops.

7. Finally, save them the stress

Stress is not good for anyone and our pullets are no exception. Offer them a calm and peaceful environment, avoid any source of stress as much as possible so that egg laying is optimal.

Bonus: it might be a rooster!

Well yes, roosters don't lay eggs 🤣