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    • Why Have My Chickens Stopped Laying Eggs?! Probably One of These Reasons

      Posted at 3:46 pm by HomeDabbler, on December 29, 2019
      HomeDabbler Blog | Why have my chickens stopped laying eggs?

      Chickens are sensitive creatures.

      While it’s amazing to have a small egg-producing flock in your backyard, there are several very natural reasons why chickens (hens) stop laying eggs, at least for a while.

      The good news is that most times, they start laying again soon. Here are the most common causes.

      1. Weather Extremes

      I live in North Florida where the summers are brutal. Every August my hens stop laying eggs. The heat is just too much and most of their energy goes to surviving it. Same with cold. If your flock slows or stops laying, check the recent weather.

      Don’t worry, this usually works itself out when the weather moderates.

      2. Shorter Daylight Hours

      This is related to weather. On short winter days, chickens will slow or stop laying. Adding a light to their coop and keeping it lit a couple hours in the evening can help with egg production.

      3. Molting

      Most chickens molt once a year. It’s creepy to watch but perfectly natural. However, hens will not lay during a molt. Their body needs all the nutrients it can get to generate new feathers.

      Btw, here’s an article about molting in case you need it.

      4. Poor (Or Improper) Nutrition

      Not all chicken feed is the same. There are different mixes of protein, minerals, fats, and nutrients depending on what you want for your flock. Bottom line: wrong mix = no eggs.

      Make sure your layers are eating a quality 16% protein layer pellet. Other varieties include chick starter and feed for meat birds. We like the Nutrena brand (no, they don’t pay me, but I wish they would. Pass the word).

      5. Trauma or Shock

      If your birds have had a recent scare or attack—a hawk is menacing them or a raccoon killed one of them—they will typically stop laying for a while. Again, they usually pick back up a few days after the incident.

      6. Disease

      Sick hens won’t lay. Most disease in a small backyard flock can be prevented by purchasing vaccinated chicks from a reputable supplier (Murray McMurray is our favorite), giving them quality food and clean water, and providing plenty of open space.

      Treat the disease and she may start laying again. I say “may” because chickens are pretty fragile when it comes to sickness. Many times they simply don’t recover. Doesn’t mean they won’t though. Fingers crossed.

      7. Age

      This is the only one you can’t fix. A hen’s prime time for laying are her second and third years. After that, her eggs will get progressively smaller until she stops laying altogether.

      Some folks butcher their hens after they stop laying, but we don’t. Our girls are free to convalesce into their twilight years.

      In Conclusion

      If you are serious about having a reliably-laying flock, buy sturdy egg-laying breeds from good dealers and you should be fine for the most part.

      We prefer Buff Orpingtons and Rhode Island Reds.

      Questions? Feel free to message me through the HomeDabbler Facebook Page.

      Kevin

       

      HomeDabbler Chicken Raising Manual for Beginners
      Posted in Uncategorized | 0 Comments | Tagged backyard chickens, backyard poultry, Chickens, raising chickens
    • Let’s Talk About Roosters

      Posted at 8:00 am by HomeDabbler, on September 20, 2019

      Roosters are gorgeous and majestic, the iconic poultry specimen. That said, I do not have them in my flock and haven’t had for many years.

      Most roosters are extremely aggressive once they reach sexual maturity (about six months old). After that, they are prone to attack you or your children.

      See that spur? It has one job – to stab.

      Don’t roosters protect the flock?

      Contrary to the idea of the noble rooster protecting his flock, more often than not our roosters spent more time harassing the hens.

      If you get a serious predator like a raccoon or fox, even the burliest rooster will be no match, especially at night when these varmints attack.

      Ready for a 24-hour serenade?

      And the crowing. Roosters do not just scream at day break. They crow around the clock, disturbing you and your neighbors.

      But what about eggs?

      The idea is that, without a rooster, your hens will not make eggs. Not true. The female of almost every species makes eggs no matter what. If you have no roosters, you will have no fertilized eggs, so no baby chicks.

      That said, hatching your own chicks is overrated, in my opinion. There are good reasons for just buying them.

      You’ve been warned.

      I know it’s romantic to have a towering rooster commanding your flock. But unless you want to hatch your own chicks, I recommend against it.

      Kevin

      P.S. – Want more chicken articles? Visit our Chickens page.

      HomeDabbler Chicken Raising Manual for Beginners
      Posted in Chickens | 1 Comment | Tagged backyard chickens, backyard poultry, chicken coop, Chickens, raising chickens, roosters
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