why do hens stop laying?

Question

i bought six hens three are laying three are not they are fed regularly stroked and kept under cover at night

Answer 1

There are a number of reasons why your hens could not be laying.
How long since you obtained them,They need time to settle in their new surrounds.
You don't need to stroke them!
In the winter months they do not lay as often,!
Were they X Battery or Barn hens? As they are under continuous light!this encourages them to lay.
What are you feeding them on?
Finaly are they Old birds?
Answer all of these and you may get your reason for them not laying

Answer 2

The most common reasons for hens to stop laying is due to a reduction of light. If you want your hens to lay regularly, then they should get 16 hours of light everyday. Between Dec 21& June 21, birds are stimulated into a state which allows them to produce more eggs. From June 21-Dec 21, they sometimes cease to lay eggs at all. It's all due to the day length increasing, and then decreasing. If you set up some kind of artificial lighting, you will probably get more eggs.

Right now, my hens have also pretty much stopped laying. I have 16 hens, and get maybe 4 eggs a day. During the summer I was getting more than 2 dozen a day. But my hens are also getting older- they are all between 2-3yrs old.

Hens will also usually stop laying eggs while they are molting.

Answer 3

Most egg farms give their hens breaks during the year. Even the young ones can't lay constantly - they need a vacation like the rest of us. Hens get old, too. Old hens are generally killed for low quality meat. It's used for things like pet food, chicken noodle soup, chicken nuggets, etc. Nothing wrong with it, just something people should know when they buy processed food.

Answer 4

you're good to think of that youthful RIR hens wouldn't have stopped laying at this point. they gained't moult till next 12 months and could bypass on laying for extremely some weeks yet, amybe slowing down interior the iciness.whilst there is way less daylight hours. 2 opportunities spring to suggestions - have you ever wormed them with Flubenvet because of the fact which you acquire them? At 6 months they must be having their first worming as a trojan horse burden could make a contribution to destructive egg production. do not place self assurance in organic products, the superb medical care is Flubenvet. additionally, is there redmite of their coop? This has been a bad 12 months for this pest and its presence will impression their wellness and stop them laying. As they roam the backyard, I additionally puzzled in the event that they are probable laying someplace hidden, extremely than interior the nestboxes - returned, redmite could be in touch as they chilly be who prefer to place someplace without infestation.

Answer 5

You will not get eggs 100% of the time from any hen!

They go into lulls in laying - most hens are more prolific in late winter/early spring and you will get less regular laying at any time after that.

If you are planning to be self sufficient in eggs you need a lot more hens than you have and you have to be prepared to deal with the glut to will get at prime laying time!

Answer 6

Hens lay fewer eggs as they get older. Also, hens lay fewer eggs as the days grow shorter and pick up the pace in the spring.

Answer 7

Its down to light reduction. To maintain laying you need to provide light for 16 hours a day, from an artificall source.

Old saying, but very true- "Never increase light on growing birds, but never decrease light on mature laying hens"

Answer 8

One or more of many reasons.The common ones being,age -older birds lay fewer & fewer eggs until they totally stop,season -time of the year or daylight hours to be more especific , feed requirents ,moulting -loss of feathers ,to name the more common ones.
With all factors being in her favour,no hen can be expected to lay every day of the year,after a cycle of several eggs ,they need to recouperate ,before they start laying all over again.

Answer 9

Hens like all other living females of any species have a finite number of eggs, when this store is exhausted there is nothing which can be done to replenish it.

Answer 10

They are affected by light. As the days are shorter they lay less.
Commercial growers use lamps to compensate.
Mine have stopped laying all together. But they are 6 years old.