Decreased Egg Production: Causes and Solutions

Backyard chickens have become a beloved hobby for many, providing not only fresh eggs but also the joy of animal companionship. However, a common concern among chicken owners is experiencing a decrease in egg production. This issue can be puzzling and frustrating, especially when you’ve meticulously cared for your flock.

Understanding Egg Production

Before we identify issues, it's crucial to understand the basics of egg production in chickens. The average laying hen can produce up to 300 eggs a year, depending on breed, age, health, and environmental conditions. Factors such as age, light exposure, diet, stress levels, and overall health play significant roles in a hen's ability to lay eggs, which are all resources. If a laying hen does not have all these resources, she will not lay eggs.

Light triggers a hen's pituitary gland to produce eggs. Chickens require approximately 14 to 16 hours of light per day to optimize their egg-laying capabilities. If they don't receive sufficient light, their bodies may cease egg production during certain months, particularly in winter. You can not force a hen to lay eggs by providing light. All the other resources in addition to the light is needed. If one or more of these resources is missing she will not lay.

Common Causes of Decreased Egg Production

1. Seasonal Changes

One of the most natural causes of decreased egg production is seasonal change. As daylight hours shorten, which is after June 21st, being the longest day of the year (summer solstice) hens may slow down or stop laying altogether. This phenomenon is often referred to as “winter slow-down.”

Egg production typically resumes as the days lengthen in spring. However, during this time, it's crucial to ensure your chickens are still receiving adequate nutrients to prepare them for increased laying as daylight increases.

2. Nutritional Deficiencies

A poor diet can lead to a significant decrease in egg production. Chickens need a balanced diet rich in protein, calcium, vitamins, and minerals to maintain their laying capabilities. Which comes conveniently for us in a nutritionally complete chicken feed.

Hens cannot produce eggs to their maximum potential if they do not have the nutritional resources necessary to make them. Backyard chicken keepers are accidentally depriving their flocks of the nutrients they need to be healthy and productive by offering too many dietary extras in addition to their nutritionally complete commercial layer feed. Anything laying hens eat that is not layer feed, including veggies, fruits, mealworms, table scraps, grubs and designer goodies has an effect or diluting the nutrient balance in their feed, which prevents them from performing all the functions necessary to support their immune systems and produce eggs, and re-growing feathers properly.

Reduced egg production can result from offering too many snacks/treats or from mixing a complete layer feed with anything (including scratch, cracked corn, oats, dietary supplements.)

The wrong type of feed, which should be in a pellet or crumble, not a mash as chickens eat with their eyes and pick out the biggest and brightest pieces and leave the rest behind. They are now malnourished as a result. This type of feed is 100% nutritionally complete in the bag but when everything offered is not completely eaten, there will be nutritional consequences and can lead to nutritional deficiencies, resulting in fewer eggs.

3. Stress Factors and Change

Chickens are sensitive creatures, and various stressors can dramatically impact their laying patterns. Common stressors include:

• Predator threats: Frequent disturbances from predators can make your chickens feel unsafe or annoyance from a well- intentioned child.

• Overcrowding: Too many hens in a confined space can result in stress and aggressive behavior.

• Changes in routine: Moves, new flock members, losing flock members, changes in coop layout, changes in feed or alterations in housing can unsettle your chickens.

  
  

Keeping your chickens in a calm and safe environment will help minimize stress and encourage consistent egg production.

4. Health Issues

Health problems can also lead to decreased egg production. Common issues include:

• Reproductive Dysfunction: Disease or malfunctions of the oviduct such as egg-binding and internal laying can cause a drop in egg production. Seek veterinary help for a hen that has a swollen water-balloon-like abdomen or signs of egg-looking junk are found.

• Infections: Conditions such as avian influenza or respiratory infections can affect laying.

  
  

• Parasites: Infestations by mites, lice, or worms can sap a hen’s strength and affect her laying cycle. We offer Elector Psp for mites and lice, here at the ranch. Elector PSP has a no egg withdrawal period and only one treatment needed.

  
  

  A good biosecurity plan can also help keep your flock healthy and productive.

5. Age of the Chickens

Age plays a vital role in egg production. Hens begin laying eggs around five to six months old and typically reach peak productivity in their first year. However, as hens age, their production naturally declines. By the time they are around two or three years old, you may notice a significant drop in egg production. An aging flock will naturally produce fewer eggs. Nothing can reverse this process. While many hens will continue to lay eggs their entire lives, production will not be at the same rate as it was the first two years.

6. Molting

Molting is a normal process where hens shed old feathers and grow new ones, which can temporarily halt egg production. This process usually occurs annually and typically lasts for several weeks. Anytime after June 21st, (Summer Solstice) being the longest day of the year. The shortening of daylight hours will trigger a hens hormones to begin molting. Chickens may experience molting in late summer or fall.

(If your chickens are molting anytime between late January-May, it technically would not be molting but either an improper diet issue or intestinal parasites.)

While molting is a natural phenomenon, it can be disheartening for backyard chicken owners. To help your hens during this period, offer them a high-protein diet such as a grower feed to support feather regrowth and maintain their health. Always have a side dish of oyster shell available to the hens that are still laying.

Just any type of protein you offer your laying hens will not benefit feather regrowth. Laying hens have an amino acid requirement, not necessarily a protein requirement. Amino Acids are the building blocks of protein and a starter/grower feed containing 21% protein is exactly the correct formula to receive exactly what they require when trying to regrow feathers.

Solutions to Restore Egg Production

1. Ensure Proper Lighting

To combat seasonal decreases in egg production, consider adding artificial light on a timer in the coop during the shorter days of winter. Providing a consistent 14 to 16 hours of light can help stimulate your hens to continue laying eggs. Supplemental light can be added to the coop/run with no detrimental effects to the hen despite commonly parroted myths to the contrary. Laying hens at least eight hours of complete darkness to get restorative sleep.

You can not cause your laying hens to lay eggs by adding supplemental light if they don't have all the resources. Just like you can not make a laying not lay eggs if she has all the necessary resources, to lay eggs.

Resources include:

1. Youth- the first two years of a hens life is her most productive. If her diet is correct, she will still continue to lay eggs her whole life but not at the same rate as the first two years.

2. Lighting Conditions- laying hens require at least fourteen hours of daylight to stimulate her hormones to lay eggs.

3. Health- diet plays a crucial role in egg production. If a laying hen's diet is inadequate, she won't reach her full egg-laying potential. The ideal diet should include a bagged, nutritionally complete chicken feed from a reputable company, available in pellet or crumble form. Avoid feeding layer mash, as it is nutritionally complete in the bag, but chickens eat with their eyes and tend to select the largest and brightest pieces, leaving the rest and becoming malnourished.

4. Molting- molting can lead to a reduction or complete halt in egg production. Once your laying hens enter their second year, they will molt annually. To support them nutritionally during molting, provide a starter/grower feed with 21% protein. It's important to note that not just any protein will help; they require specific proteins known as amino acids. These amino acids, which are the building blocks of protein, are found in higher concentrations in starter/grower feeds. For efficient feather regrowth, hens need the right amounts and balance of amino acids, along with other nutrients in the right combination to benefit them by feeding a nutritionally complete chicken feed.

5. Low Stress- predators around the coop at night or a recent predator attack can affect egg production. Adding new chickens to an existing flock can also cause stress.

   
   

Please refer to our other blog post titled "Adding Supplemental Lighting to Keep Up Egg Production in the Fall/Winter" for more detailed information on this subject.

2. Improve Nutrition

Provide laying hens with a complete, commercial layer feed and limit dietary extras including healthy items (fruits, veggies, mealworms, kitchen scraps, leftovers, etc.) to no more than two tablespoons per hen- and not every day. We skip dietary extras completely here at the Ranch-they are of no benefit to chickens nutritionally.

Provide crushed oyster shells for additional calcium, critical for eggshell formation.

Chick' N Egg is a natural supplement we provide which contains calcium and vitamin D. It supports musculoskeletal integrity and promotes a healthy eggshell structure and improves the quality of shells.

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More information on Chick' N Swell Products, visit chicknswell.ca

Water Deprivation-

Access to clean, fresh cool water at all times is imperative to the formation of eggs. Egg production will suffer if a hen's access is limited physically, (frozen or too far away) restricted (prevented from reaching it by another chicken) or dirty, medicated or warm. The use of a poultry nipple waterer can solve most water-related problems.

3. Reduce Stress

Make adjustments to reduce stress levels in your flock. Ensure adequate space and shelter from predators, with the use of hardware cloth, maintain a consistent routine, and monitor for signs of aggression or discomfort among hens.

4. Regular Health Checks

Keep an eye on your chickens’ health by conducting regular checks for signs of illness or discomfort. Ensure that they are parasite-free by doing booty checks once a month. The easiest way to do this without disrupting the flock more than necessary, is to go in the coop after dark while everyone is on the roost. (This goes quicker with the help of a partner) Using a headlamp is easiest as it frees up both hands. Part the feathers around the chickens vent and look for anything moving. If you see nothing, great and your job is done. If you happen to see tiny straw-coloured bugs, then you treat.

There is nothing you can put in a chickens environment that will prevent mites or lice. You just treat when it happens.

Chickens are outside animals and will come into contact with mites or lice from time to time. No big deal, just treat it when it happens.

5. Prepare for Molting

Understand that molting is a normal process. During this time, continue to provide necessary nutritional support to help your hens through the transition. The best way you can do that is to provide them with a higher protein feed like a grower feed. Feeding other things higher in protein that is not their chicken feed will just delay the feather regrowth process because they are not getting the proper proteins which are amino acids, which is offered in their chicken feed in the correct amounts.

Conclusion

Experiencing a decrease in egg production in your backyard chickens can be concerning, but it’s essential to approach the mystery with confidence and understanding. By recognizing and addressing potential causes—including seasonal changes, nutritional deficiencies, stress factors, health issues, age, and molting—you can pave the way for solutions that promote a healthy and productive flock.

In the world of backyard chickens, patience and proactive care are key. Rest assured that with the right approach, your hens will be back to laying in no time.