The short answer
Hens usually stop laying for one of these reasons, roughly from most to least common:
- Shorter days, in autumn and winter
- Molting: losing and regrowing feathers
- Age: hens lay less each year after their second
- Stress: a move, new birds, predators, noise
- A broody hen trying to hatch eggs
- Diet: too little protein or calcium, too many treats
- Heat or cold
- Parasites or illness: mites, lice, worms, disease
- Hidden nests or egg eating: the eggs are there, you just don't get them
- Too young: pullets that haven't started yet
Find the likely cause
Tap what's true for your flock. The likely causes update as you go.
Answer a question or two to see the likely causes.
The 10 causes, and what to do about each
Shorter days
NormalLaying is driven by light. Most hens need around 14 to 16 hours of daylight to lay steadily, so egg numbers slide as the days shorten in autumn and stay low through winter. It's the body's way of resting through the hard months.
How to tell
- The drop began as the days got noticeably shorter
- The whole flock slowed down together
- Hens look healthy, eat well and act normally
What to do
- Nothing is required. Laying picks up as days lengthen in late winter and spring
- If you choose to add light, add it in the early morning on a timer, increase it gradually, and aim for about 14 hours in total
- Many keepers let hens rest in winter instead
Molting
NormalOnce a year, usually in late summer or autumn, hens drop their old feathers and grow new ones. Feathers are almost pure protein, so the body pauses egg production to build them.
How to tell
- Feathers all over the run and coop
- Bald or patchy hens, often starting at the head and neck
- Spiky new "pin" feathers coming through
What to do
- Switch to a higher-protein feed (around 18 to 20%) until new feathers are in
- Cut back treats and scratch, which dilute protein
- Handle molting hens as little as possible; pin feathers are sore
- More in the chicken molting guide
Age
NormalHens lay best in their first two laying years. After that, numbers drop a little each year. Many hens slow right down somewhere between 5 and 7 years old, though some still lay the odd egg after that. High-production hybrids tend to start strong and slow sooner.
How to tell
- The hen is 3 years or older
- Laying has been tapering off over seasons, not weeks
- She's otherwise bright and healthy
What to do
- Nothing to fix. Older hens still eat pests, make compost and keep the flock calm
- Count her in your cost per egg as a bird that doesn't lay
- Add a few younger birds if you need more eggs
Stress
FixableChickens like routine. A predator at night, a move to a new coop, new flock members, loud building work, a dog in the run or rough handling can stop laying for a while.
How to tell
- Something changed in the last few weeks
- Birds are jumpy, hiding or reluctant to go into the coop
- Pecking order fights after new birds arrived
What to do
- Find and remove the cause: secure the coop, check for gaps a predator could use
- Introduce new birds slowly, with a see-but-don't-touch period first
- Keep feeding and lock-up times the same every day
A broody hen
NormalA broody hen wants to hatch eggs. She stops laying, sits in the nest all day, and puffs up or growls when you come near. Broodiness can spread to other hens.
How to tell
- One hen stays in the nest box and won't leave
- She flattens, puffs up or pecks when disturbed
- She leaves the nest only briefly to eat, drink and make a large dropping
What to do
- If you want chicks, give her fertile eggs and let her sit (about 21 days for chickens)
- If not, collect eggs often and gently lift her off the nest several times a day
- A few days in a bright, airy pen without bedding usually breaks the spell
Diet
FixableEach egg takes protein, calcium and energy. Too many treats, kitchen scraps or scratch grains dilute the feed, and a lack of calcium leads to thin shells and fewer eggs. Running out of water, even for a day, can also stop laying.
How to tell
- Treats or scraps make up a big share of what they eat
- Thin, soft or misshapen shells before the drop
- Feed was changed recently, or water froze or ran dry
What to do
- Make a complete layer feed (about 16% protein) most of their diet
- Keep treats to about a tenth of what they eat
- Offer oyster shell on the side, and check water twice a day in hot or freezing weather
Heat or cold
FixableHot weather is harder on chickens than cold. In a heatwave they eat less and put their energy into keeping cool. Very cold snaps can slow laying too.
How to tell
- Panting, wings held away from the body, less eating (heat)
- The drop matches a heatwave or a hard freeze
What to do
- Heat: plenty of shade, cool fresh water, good airflow in the coop
- Cold: keep the coop dry and draught-free with good ventilation up high; stop water freezing
Parasites or illness
Check closelyMites and lice drain hens and can stop laying. Worms, respiratory infections and other diseases can too. Illness is less common than the causes above, but it's the one not to miss.
How to tell
- Mites or lice around the vent or under the wings; check at night for red mites in perches
- Pale comb, weight loss, dull or fluffed-up feathers
- Diarrhoea, sneezing, noisy breathing, or a hen standing hunched apart
What to do
- Treat mites or lice with a product made for poultry, and clean the coop thoroughly
- Separate a sick-looking bird and keep notes of what you see
- Call a vet if any warning sign below appears
Too young to start
NormalMost pullets start laying somewhere between 18 and 24 weeks old. Some heritage breeds take longer, and pullets that reach laying age as the days are getting shorter often wait until spring.
How to tell
- The bird is under about 6 months old
- Her comb and wattles are still small and pale; they redden as she gets close
- She squats when you reach over her: a sign laying is near
What to do
- Be patient, and switch from grower to layer feed once the first eggs appear
- Make sure nest boxes are set up so she starts in the right place
How long until they lay again?
Typical times. Every flock is different, so use these as a rough guide.
| Cause | Usually lasts | Comes back on its own? |
|---|---|---|
| Shorter days | Until days lengthen, about 2 to 4 months | Yes |
| Molting | About 8 to 12 weeks | Yes, faster with more protein |
| Stress | A week or two after the stress ends | Yes, once the cause is gone |
| Broodiness | Days to weeks, plus a couple of weeks to restart | Yes |
| Diet | 1 to 3 weeks after it's fixed | Only once the diet is fixed |
| Heat or cold | Until the weather settles | Yes |
| Parasites or illness | Depends on the cause | Needs treatment |
| Age | Permanent, gradual | No |
When to call a vet
A drop in laying on its own is rarely an emergency. Call a vet, or your local animal health service, if you see any of these:
- A hen that is lethargic, hunched or not eating for more than a day
- Straining, a swollen belly, or a "penguin" stance: possible egg binding or an internal laying problem
- Sneezing, noisy breathing, swollen eyes or face
- Watery, bloody or green diarrhoea
- Several sick birds, or sudden deaths. A sudden fall in laying with sick or dying birds can be a sign of avian influenza or other serious disease. In many countries it must be reported, so contact a vet or the official animal health authority straight away.
Know exactly when the drop started.
Most of the clues above come down to timing: did laying fall when the days shortened, when new birds arrived, or after a heatwave? A one-tap daily egg count in Flockwell shows the drop on a chart, next to your health notes and reminders.
Questions
Do chickens stop laying in winter?
Many do, or lay far less. Hens need roughly 14 to 16 hours of daylight to lay steadily, so egg numbers fall as days shorten in autumn and pick up again as days lengthen in late winter and spring. It's normal and doesn't harm them.
How long do chickens molt?
A molt usually lasts about 8 to 12 weeks, sometimes longer for older hens. Most hens lay little or nothing until their new feathers are in. Extra protein helps them get through it.
At what age do chickens stop laying?
Hens lay best in their first two years. After that they lay a little less each year, and many slow right down somewhere around 5 to 7 years old, though some keep laying the odd egg for longer.
How do I get my chickens to start laying again?
Find the cause first using the checker above. Make sure they have layer feed as most of their diet, fresh water, oyster shell and a calm, clean coop. Then give it time: daylight, molt and age-related pauses end on their own. If a hen looks unwell, call a vet.
Why are my hens laying soft or thin-shelled eggs?
Usually not enough calcium: offer oyster shell on the side and keep treats down. Heat stress, older age, and some illnesses can also cause shell problems. If it happens often in a young hen on good feed, ask a vet.
Should I add artificial light in winter?
It's your choice. Extra light in the early morning, on a timer, can keep hens laying through winter. Many keepers prefer to let hens rest, since the winter break is natural. If you do add light, increase it gradually and keep the evening dark so hens settle on the perch normally.
Do ducks stop laying for the same reasons?
Mostly, yes. Ducks also slow down with shorter days, molting, age and stress, and they're even more prone to laying in hidden spots. Many duck breeds lay well into winter, though.
Keep going
This guide is general information for backyard and small-farm keepers, not veterinary advice. If a bird seems unwell, contact a vet. Rules on reporting bird diseases differ by country.