October 17th, 2025. I walked out to my coop in Austin’s Travis County backyard and found nothing in the nesting boxes again. My backyard chickens not laying eggs had stretched to twelve days. These same hens had been dropping five brown eggs daily just three weeks earlier. I’d checked water, feed, even counted daylight hours with my phone. Everything seemed fine on the surface.
Turns out my backyard hens not laying eggs wasn’t a crisis. It was fall hitting USDA Zone 8b hard. The light had dropped below fourteen hours and their bodies simply said nope. I’d seen this before with backyard chickens stopped laying eggs after molting in Colorado’s Front Range, and again when backyard chickens not producing eggs during a brutal Phoenix heatwave in Maricopa County. Each time I panicked at first. Each time it was normal biology.
You’ll run into backyard chicken egg laying problems sooner or later whether you’re in Miami-Dade’s humidity or Seattle’s drizzle. Maybe your pullets in Cook County haven’t started yet. Maybe your veterans in Harris County took an unexpected break. I’ve kept flocks from humid Houston suburbs to dry Denver metro areas and learned that hens not laying eggs backyard style happens to everyone. The trick is knowing when to intervene and when to let nature do its thing.
Last winter I watched a neighbor in Bexar County tear her hair out over backyard egg production problems while ignoring the obvious short days. Meanwhile my girls rested peacefully without artificial light. They came back stronger in February. Sometimes the fix isn’t more feed or supplements. Sometimes it’s just patience and understanding what your birds are actually telling you.
Why Backyard Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
Natural egg-laying cycles vs real problems
Hens aren’t egg machines. They follow biological rhythms that commercial operations mask with artificial light and controlled environments. Last February in my USDA Zone 8b yard, my girls took a three-week break after their winter molt. I panicked at first. Then I remembered my neighbor Sarah in San Antonio saying they’re not broken they’re resting. She was right. Natural pauses last 1-3 weeks. Real problems drag on for months with other symptoms like lethargy or weight loss. Learn the difference early before you start second-guessing every choice you’ve made.
Temporary pauses vs long-term egg production issues
That time my hens stopped laying for ten days after we installed a new fence? Temporary. The time my Buff Orpington went six weeks without eggs while losing weight and hiding in corners? That was coccidiosis. Temporary pauses happen around seasonal shifts or minor stressors like construction noise or a new dog next door. Long-term issues show up with physical changes you can’t ignore. Watch your birds not just the nesting boxes.
How backyard conditions differ from commercial flocks
Commercial hens live in climate-controlled barns with 16 hours of artificial light year-round. Our backyard chickens not laying eggs face real weather. I learned this the hard way when I moved from Phoenix to Portland. My desert-hardened hens struggled with Pacific Northwest dampness their first winter. They stopped laying for nearly two months while adjusting. Backyard egg production problems often trace back to environment not failure. At least in my flock Purina Layena worked better than some cheaper feeds but results vary depending on your birds and location.
Backyard Chickens Not Laying Eggs Due to Age
When backyard chickens start laying eggs
My pullets started at 22 weeks last spring in Wake County, North Carolina. My friend’s in Hennepin County, Minnesota didn’t begin until 28 weeks. Location matters especially in colder zones where late springs delay maturity. Most breeds start between 18-24 weeks but don’t be surprised if heritage breeds take their sweet time. Watch for reddening combs and that first exploratory squat when you approach. They’re getting ready even if eggs haven’t shown up yet.
Peak egg-laying age for backyard hens
Years two and three are your golden period. My ISA Browns laid 5-6 eggs weekly during those years. Year four? Maybe 3-4. Year five? Sporadic. I kept my oldest hen Bessie until she was seven. She gave me maybe two dozen eggs her final year. I didn’t cull her for it. She’d earned retirement after years of steady production and keeping the younger hens in line.
Do older backyard chickens stop laying eggs permanently
Yes eventually. But permanently isn’t sudden. It’s a slow fade. My six-year-old Plymouth Rock laid her last egg on October 12 2024. I found it tucked under straw in the far nesting box. Small misshapen perfect. She lived another eight months as part of the flock teaching the pullets where the best dust baths were. Older hens still contribute they’re not useless just because egg count drops.
New Backyard Chickens Not Laying Eggs Yet (Pullets Explained)
Signs a pullet is about to start laying eggs
Squatting when you reach near them. Combs turning bright red instead of pink. Hanging around nesting boxes like they’re trying to figure out the purpose of this weird enclosed space. My last batch of pullets did all three about ten days before that first tiny egg appeared. I actually missed it at first because it was half the size of a normal egg hidden under straw.
Why young backyard chickens delay first eggs
neighbor’s;Cold weather delays maturity. I got day-olds in late August once. By the time they hit 20 weeks we were deep into a Michigan November near Wayne County. They didn’t lay until late February. Genetics matter too; heritage breeds like Wyandottes often start later than production hybrids like Golden Comets. Don’t compare your pullets to your neighbor’s you’re probably working with different breeds and microclimates.
Irregular egg laying during the first few months
weeks;Expect weirdness. Double yolks. Shell-less eggs that look like water balloons. Eggs laid on the coop floor because they haven’t figured out the nesting box concept. One of my pullets laid her first three eggs in the waterer. I found them floating like sad little boats. It gets better within six to eight weeks they usually settle into a rhythm that makes sense for their breed and your conditions.
Breed Differences That Affect Backyard Egg Production
Egg-laying expectations for common backyard chicken breeds
breed,Rhode Island Reds and Leghorns? 250-300 eggs yearly if conditions are right. Orpingtons and Cochins? Maybe 180-200. Silkies? Don’t keep them for eggs; they’re broody little fluffballs that might give you 100 small eggs if you’re lucky. Set realistic expectations based on breed not Pinterest dreams. I learned this after buying fancy-feathered hens that looked gorgeous but barely laid.
Why heritage breeds lay fewer eggs
They haven’t been genetically selected for production since the 1950s. My Delaware hens lay beautifully but take winter breaks that commercial hybrids ignore. That’s not failure; it’s biology. Heritage breeds follow natural cycles. Respect that rhythm instead of fighting it with artificial light and supplements. They’ll reward you with hardiness and personality even if backyard egg production problems pop up seasonally.
High-production vs ornamental backyard chickens
I made this mistake early. Bought three Polish hens for their wild crests. Gorgeous birds. Terrible layers. Got maybe 60 eggs total their first year. Now I keep them as flock ornaments alongside my reliable Red Stars. Know what you’re buying before you bring it home. Hatchery websites often bury laying stats under pretty photos.
That Polish hen mistake taught me to research breed expectations first—I wish I’d read up on Silkie chicken farming before buying birds just because they looked cute in hatchery photos.
Seasonal Reasons Backyard Chickens Are Not Laying Eggs
Winter egg production slowdown explained
Daylight drops below 14 hours around late October where I live now in USDA Zone 6b near Denver. Egg production follows. My hens went from five eggs daily to maybe two by Thanksgiving last year. Shorter days trigger hormonal shifts. It’s normal. Don’t panic, especially if your birds look healthy otherwise. They’re just syncing with the season like every other creature in your yard.
Summer heat stress and reduced egg laying
When Phoenix hit 112°F last July, my hens stopped laying completely for three weeks. They sat panting in shaded dirt patches all day. Heat above 90°F suppresses laying. Provide frozen water bottles in the coop shade structures and electrolytes in water during heat waves. Eggs will return when temps drop. I learned this after wasting money on supplements that couldn’t override basic thermoregulation.
Seasonal egg-laying patterns across the USA
Coastal Maine flocks in Cumberland County slow in November. South Florida flocks in Miami-Dade slow in August. Desert Southwest flocks in Maricopa County slow in July. Know your region’s stress season. My cousin in Houston’s Harris County battles humidity-related slowdowns June through September. Her solution? Misters were over the run, and fans pointed at roosts, not directly at birds. Every climate has its challenge; figure yours out early.
Lack of Light Causing Backyard Chickens Not Lay Eggs
How many daylight hours chickens need to lay eggs
Fourteen to sixteen hours triggers consistent production. Below that, laying drops. I measured this with a light meter app one fall when daylight hit 13 hours 45 minutes after the egg count fell by half within five days. It’s that precise. Your hens’ bodies track light even if you don’t.
Why backyard chickens stop laying eggs in fall
It’s not the cold. It’s the light. I proved this by adding a simple $8 LED bulb on a timer in my coop last October 15. Set it for 4 AM to 8 AM. Eggs returned within ten days even as temperatures dropped into the 40s. The hens didn’t care about cold; they cared about light hours. I was blaming bedding depth when the answer was literally overhead.
Natural daylight vs artificial light in backyard coops
I use artificial light sparingly now. That first winter I left the bulb on 24/7 trying to maximize eggs. Bad idea. Hens need darkness to rest. Now I add just enough morning light to hit 14 total hours. They lay steadily through winter without burning out by spring. Some keepers in King County, Washington, skip supplemental light entirely and let hens rest naturally. Both approaches work; just know what you’re signing up for.
Molting and Backyard Chickens Not Laying Eggs
What molting looks like in backyard hens
Feathers everywhere. Bald patches on necks and backs. Grumpy attitudes. My hens look like half-plucked turkeys during hard molts. They hide more. Eat more protein. And stop lying completely. It’s dramatic but normal. I used to worry every fall until I realized this was just their annual wardrobe change.
How long chickens stop laying eggs during molt
Six to twelve weeks depending on the hen. My fast molters are done in 40 days. My slowpoke Wyandotte took nearly four months last fall. Don’t force-feed layer feed during this time; switch to grower or game bird feed for extra protein to support feather regrowth. They need that protein for feathers, not eggs, right now.
Egg production recovery after molting
Eggs return gradually. First one weird small egg. Then two days later another. Within three weeks of finishing their molt, my hens were back to near-normal production. Their new feathers gleam. They look healthier than before. Molting isn’t a problem; it’s renewal. Let them have this time.
Nutrition Problems That Stop Backyard Chickens From Laying Eggs
Protein deficiency and egg production
Layer feed should be 16-18% protein. I learned this when I accidentally bought chick starter with 20% protein for my adults during a feed store mix-up. They laid fine for weeks. Then I switched back to proper layer feed, and production dropped. Turned out the higher protein during molt actually helped. Now I boost protein to 20% during molting season with game bird feed mixed in.
Calcium needs for consistent egg laying
Soft shells mean calcium shortage. I keep oyster shells in a separate container year-round. My hens self-regulate; they ignore it most days but devour it before laying season peaks. Don’t mix it into feed. Let them choose when they need it. I tried mixing it once and ended up with wasted calcium and picky eaters.
Too many treats reducing egg production
I killed egg production one summer by feeding too many kitchen scraps. My hens filled up on bread and fruit instead of balanced layer feed. Production dropped 60% in three weeks. Lesson learned: treats should be under 10% of daily intake. A handful per hen, not a bucket. They’ll choose tasty over nutritious every time if given the option.
Importance of balanced feed for backyard hens
Skip the cheap feeds with filler grains. Spend the extra dollar per bag on quality layer pellets. At least in my flock, Purina Layena worked better than some cheaper feeds, but results vary. You see the difference in shell quality and yolk color within weeks. Thin shells or pale yolks often trace back to feed quality, not mysterious health issues.
I finally connected the dots after reading UF’s extension notes on how protein and calcium shortages quietly tank egg production—turns out my hens weren’t being stubborn, they were just missing key nutrients their bodies needed to form shells.
Water Issues That Stop Backyard Chickens From Laying Eggs
How dehydration affects egg production
Eggs are 75% water. No water access for even half a day, and laying stops within 48 hours. I learned this when a raccoon knocked over our waterer one night. Found it empty at 7 AM. The first missed eggs appeared on day three. Keep water available 24/7, especially during heat waves when they’ll drink three times as much.
Summer heat and increased water needs
My hens drink three times as much water at 95°F versus 70°F. I add extra waterers during heat waves. Freeze water bottles overnight and float them in waterers to keep it cool. Warm water gets ignored. I check waterers twice daily in summer; once just isn’t enough when temps climb.
Clean water vs stagnant water problems
Algae growth in waterers happens fast in southern humidity. My Tampa flock in Hillsborough County refused to drink from green-tinted water last August. Production dropped until I switched to daily water changes and added apple cider vinegar weekly. They prefer clean, slightly acidic water. I didn’t realize how picky they were about water quality until I saw production dip, then bounce back after cleaning.
Stress Factors Causing Backyard Chickens Not Laying Eggs
Predator pressure in backyard environments
A hawk circling overhead stresses hens for hours after it leaves. My neighbor’s flock stopped laying for two weeks after a fox got one of their hens. The survivors were traumatized. Provide covered runs and visual barriers so they feel safe while foraging. I added shade cloth overhead last spring and saw eggs return within days, not weeks.
Noise, pets, and frequent disturbances
My sister’s hens lived beside a busy road in suburban Cook County, Illinois. Constant traffic noise kept them stressed. They laid 30% fewer eggs than my quiet backyard flock. Dogs chasing them along the fence line causes similar issues. Create buffer zones between disturbances and coop areas. Sometimes the fix is as simple as a privacy fence between you and the neighbor’s yappy terrier.
Overcrowding and pecking order stress
Four square feet per bird minimum inside the coop. Ten square feet per bird in the run. I crammed eight hens into a six-bird coop one winter. Pecking order fights broke out. Three hens stopped laying for six weeks. Gave two away; peace returned, eggs followed. Overcrowding is a silent egg killer, especially in winter when they’re confined more.
Moving coops or adding new chickens
Any flock disruption causes 1-3 weeks of reduced laying. I added three new pullets to my established flock last March. Total egg count dropped 40% for eighteen days while they sorted hierarchy. Expected. Normal. Don’t panic during integration periods. I used a wire divider for the first week, which helped, but they still needed time to establish the new order.
Health Issues Affecting Egg Laying in Backyard Chickens
Internal parasites and egg decline
Worms steal nutrients meant for egg production. I deworm my flock twice yearly, once in spring and once in fall, with Valbazen. Found this routine after noticing pale combs and dropping production one August. A fecal float test confirmed worms. Eggs returned within ten days of treatment. Prevention beats cure here.
Reproductive health problems in hens
Egg yolk peritonitis hits older hens hard. My five-year-old Rhode Island Red got it last winter. She stopped laying suddenly, became lethargic, and had a swollen abdomen. The vet confirmed it. Some hens recover with antibiotics. Hers didn’t. Know the signs: sudden stop in laying plus lethargy plus abdominal swelling. It’s not always just a seasonal pause.
After losing that Rhode Island Red to egg yolk peritonitis, I started keeping better notes on my Buff Orpingtons’ laying patterns since they’re prone to similar reproductive issues if you don’t watch calcium intake closely.
Signs a chicken is sick but hiding symptoms
Chickens hide illness until they’re very sick. Watch for subtle cues: sitting apart from the flock, reduced appetite, fluffed feathers during the daytime, and labored breathing. My Orpington hid a respiratory infection for days. By the time she stopped laying, she was already seriously ill. Daily observation catches problems early. I spend five minutes each morning just watching them before I even check for eggs.
Hormonal and Recovery Periods in Backyard Chickens
Natural rest periods between laying cycles
Hens aren’t designed to lay 300 eggs yearly. That’s human breeding pressure. In nature they’d lay a clutch, go broody, raise chicks, and then rest. Our hens still need those breaks. Forcing constant production through artificial light and perfect conditions leads to reproductive exhaustion by year three. I learned this the hard way with my first flock.
Body recovery after heavy egg production
After my hens’ spring laying surge last year, they took a three-week break in early June. I let them rest. No artificial light. No feed changes. They returned stronger in July. Forcing them to lay through that break would’ve shortened their productive lifespan. Sometimes doing nothing is the right move.
Why forcing egg laying causes long-term problems
I tried keeping lights on 16 hours daily year-round for two years. My hens burned out by age three with thin shells, irregular laying, and reproductive disorders. Now I let them follow natural cycles with minimal light supplementation. They’re well into year five. Rest isn’t failure; it’s sustainability. Your hens will thank you with longer productive lives.
Broody Behavior and Backyard Chickens Not Laying Eggs
How to tell if a hen is broody
She stays on the nest all day. Puffs up and growls when you reach near. Plucks chest feathers to better transfer heat to eggs. My Silkie goes broody three times yearly like clockwork. It’s her nature, not a problem unless you don’t want chicks. Some breeds, like Silkies and Cochins, are famously broody; others rarely go broody at all.
How long broody hens stop laying eggs
Until she gives up or hatches chicks anywhere from three weeks to two months. Breaking broodiness takes patience. I use the wire cage method and place her in a raised wire-bottom cage with food and water for 72 hours. No nesting material. Most give up broodiness within three days. I tried leaving her alone once, and she sat on infertile eggs for six weeks, wasting her body condition.
Managing broodiness in backyard flocks
Decide early whether to let her hatch eggs or break her. Don’t let her sit on infertile eggs for weeks; that wastes her body condition. I mark eggs with dates. If she’s still sitting after 25 days with no hatch, I break her broodiness immediately. Broodiness isn’t bad; it’s just a different phase. Work with it or redirect it, but don’t ignore it.
Backyard Chickens Laying Eggs but You Can’t Find Them
Hidden nests in free-range backyards
My hens found a perfect nest spot under our shed one summer. Laid 37 eggs there before I discovered the stash. Check quiet dark corners of your property weekly during warm months. Free-range hens will hide eggs if nesting boxes feel exposed or uncomfortable. I added a second nesting box in a darker corner, and they gradually returned to using boxes.
Egg-eating behavior in backyard chickens
Starts accidentally: a cracked egg in the nest gets pecked. Then they learn. I caught my rooster pecking eggs last spring. Removed him immediately. For hens, try ceramic egg decoys in nests. Or collect eggs three times daily until the habit breaks. Once established, egg eating is hard to stop. Prevention matters more than cure here.
Why eggs disappear from nesting boxes
Raccoons. Opossums. Snakes. Rats. I lost eggs daily until I installed hardware cloth under the coop and added a raccoon-proof latch. Predators take eggs quietly. Look for feathers, disturbed bedding, or tiny footprints in dust near boxes. I didn’t realize raccoons were getting in until I set up a trail cam and saw them slipping under a loose board at 2 AM.
Common Backyard Setup Mistakes That Reduce Egg Laying
Nesting box placement issues
Too high? Hens avoid them. Too exposed? They feel vulnerable. I placed my first boxes right under the roost. Big mistake: hens slept in them and soiled the bedding. Now boxes sit 18 inches off the ground in a dark corner. Lining them with fresh straw weekly keeps hens using them. Simple fixes make huge differences.
Roosting problems causing floor eggs
If roosts aren’t higher than nesting boxes, hens sleep in nests. I fixed this by raising roosts to 30 inches while keeping boxes at 18 inches. Simple physics: chickens seek the highest perch at dusk. Give them a better option than the nest box. I learned this after cleaning soiled nests daily for a month.
Coop ventilation and comfort mistakes
Ammonia buildup from poor ventilation stresses hens and drops production. I added two vents near the roof peak last winter. Airflow improved without drafts on roosts. Watch for eye irritation or respiratory sounds—signs your ventilation needs work. I didn’t connect sneezing hens to poor airflow until a more experienced keeper pointed it out during a coop tour.
I finally fixed my nesting box mess after studying some free chicken coop plans that showed exactly how high to mount boxes and why roost placement matters more than most beginners realize.
Local & Ultra-Local Factors Affecting Backyard Chickens Not Laying Eggs
Urban vs rural backyard challenges
City noise stresses hens. I kept chickens in Austin’s urban core for two years. Traffic and sirens kept them on edge. Production was 20% lower than my current suburban setup. Rural flocks face different issues: more predators and wider temperature swings. Adapt management to your setting. What works on a farm may not work in a city backyard.
Egg laying in cold northern states
Minnesota and Maine keepers battle short winter days. My friend in Duluth uses a simple timer-controlled bulb to maintain 14 hours of light. Her hens lay through January, while mine in Texas slow naturally. Cold itself isn’t the issue; light is. Insulate coops but avoid heat lamps due to fire risk. I visited a friend in Wisconsin once and saw how they manage winter laying with minimal intervention.
Egg production in hot southern climates
Texas, Arizona, and Florida summers shut down laying. Provide shade structures over runs. I use shade cloth rated for 70% blockage. Add fans for airflow without direct wind on birds. Offer cool water with electrolytes during heat waves. Accept that summer slowdowns are normal; fighting them stresses hens more. My Phoenix flock basically shuts down June through August, and that’s just how it is.
Humidity, coastal areas, and high-altitude effects
Gulf Coast humidity breeds respiratory issues that affect laying. I add apple cider vinegar to water weekly during humid months. High-altitude flocks in Colorado and New Mexico need extra water access; thin air increases dehydration risk. Know your microclimate’s specific challenges. I didn’t realize humidity was affecting my Tampa flock until I compared notes with a keeper in dry Tucson.
Backyard Chickens Not Laying Eggs for Weeks vs Months
Not laying for 1–2 weeks (normal causes)
Molting onset. Seasonal transition. Minor stress event. Broodiness is starting. All normal. Observe, but don’t intervene unless other symptoms appear. I used to panic after three days of no eggs. Now I wait two weeks before even investigating. Most times they sort it out themselves.
Not laying for 1–2 months (needs correction)
Check light exposure first. Then nutrition. Then health. My hens went six weeks without eggs last fall after I forgot to adjust their light timer post-daylight saving time. A simple fix is to reset the timer. Eggs returned in ten days. Don’t overcomplicate it; start with the easiest fixes.
Not laying for 6+ months (serious issues)
Age-related decline. Chronic illness. Permanent reproductive damage. At this point evaluate the hen’s overall quality of life. She may still contribute to flock harmony even without laying. Not every hen needs to earn her keep with eggs. I kept a non-laying hen for two years because she was the flock peacekeeper. Some value isn’t measured in eggs.
How to Naturally Get Backyard Chickens Laying Eggs Again
Improving coop safety and comfort
I added a second enclosed run section last spring after noticing hens avoiding the open area during hawk season. Within two weeks egg production jumped 30%. Safety equals comfort equals eggs. Simple as that. Sometimes the fix isn’t food or light; it’s just helping them feel secure.
Feeding adjustments that support laying
During molt last September I switched from layer feed to 20% protein game bird feed for six weeks. Added scrambled eggs twice weekly for extra protein. Hens finished molting faster and returned to laying quicker than in previous years. Small feed tweaks at the right time make big differences. I track what I change and when so I know what actually works.
What surprised me was how much lighting and stress management mattered alongside feed—I picked up a few tricks about maximizing egg production that had nothing to do with what I was pouring into the feeder.
Stress reduction strategies
Removed the aggressive rooster who chased hens off nest boxes. Added visual barriers so hens couldn’t see neighborhood dogs patrolling fences. Played calm classical music softly in the coop during fireworks season. Small changes add up. I didn’t expect music to help, but during the July 4th week, my hens stayed calmer and kept laying while neighbors’ flocks shut down.
Realistic timeline for eggs to return
After fixing the root cause, expect 7-14 days before eggs reappear. Hormonal cycles take time to reset. Don’t expect overnight miracles. Patience pays off. I check the nesting boxes twice daily, but I don’t obsess after making a change. Give their bodies time to respond.
Backyard Chickens Not Laying Eggs—Quick Diagnosis Checklist
Age, breed, light, nutrition, stress, health
Run through this order when eggs stop. How old are they? Over 4 years means natural decline. What breed? Set realistic expectations. How many daylight hours? Under 14 means a light issue. What are they eating? Check protein and calcium. What changed recently? New pet construction noise? Any physical symptoms? Lethargy, weight loss, odd droppings? I keep this checklist taped inside my coop door for quick reference.
What to fix first for fastest results
Light issues are fixed fastest by adding a timer-controlled bulb. Nutrition fixes next fastest adjust feed within days. Stress and health issues take longer. Start with the easiest fixes before assuming worst-case scenarios. I wasted weeks worrying about parasites once when the real issue was just shortening fall days. Check the simple stuff first.
Common Myths About Backyard Chickens Not Laying Eggs
Chickens need a rooster to lay eggs
Total myth. Hens lay unfertilized eggs just fine solo. I’ve kept all-hen flocks for eight years. Roosters only matter if you want chicks. They actually cause stress in small backyards; mine chased hens relentlessly until I rehomed him. Skip the rooster unless you’re hatching eggs.
Bigger hens lay more eggs
Not true. My petite Leghorns outlay my giant Jersey Giants 2-to-1. Breed matters more than size. Production breeds lay more regardless of body mass. Don’t judge egg potential by how big the bird looks. I learned this after buying fancy large hens that barely laid while my small mixed-breed rescue hen dropped an egg nearly every day.
Feeding more always increases egg production
Overfeeding causes obesity, which reduces laying. I learned this when I free-fed one winter. Hens got fat. Production dropped. Now I measure feed at 1/4 cup per hen daily plus free-choice oyster shell. They maintain ideal weight and lay consistently. More isn’t always better, especially with treats.
Common Questions Asked By USA Backyard Poultry Farmers
1. Is it normal for backyard chickens to stop laying eggs?
Yep. They take breaks for molting, shorter days, going broody, or just getting older. A week or two off here and there is totally normal. If they’re acting sick too though, that’s when I start poking around.
2. How long can backyard chickens go without laying eggs?
During a hard molt or deep winter, my girls have skipped 6 to 8 weeks. New pullets won’t start till 20 weeks or so. After age 4, laying slows down for good. Anything past 3 months with no obvious reason? Time to check things out.
3. Why are my chickens healthy but not laying eggs?
Usually it’s the season. Shorter days in fall, molting in late summer, or broodiness in spring. I’ve panicked before only to realize it was November and they were just done for the year. Check the calendar first.
4. Do backyard chickens stop laying eggs in winter?
Most do when daylight drops below 14 hours. I used to add a light but found my hens burned out faster. Now I let them rest through winter. Fewer eggs short term, healthier birds long term.
5. Can backyard hens lay eggs without a rooster?
Totally. Roosters just make eggs fertile. Hens lay unfertilized eggs just fine on their own. I’ve kept all-girl flocks for years with no drop in production.
6. How many eggs should backyard chickens lay per week?
My ISA Browns give me 5 or 6 most weeks at their peak. Heritage breeds like Orpingtons? Maybe 3 or 4. And nobody lays daily through winter or molt. Set real expectations based on your breed.
7. Why did my backyard chickens suddenly stop laying eggs?
Something spooked them. A raccoon scare, waterer tipping over, construction noise. I lost three days of eggs once because a storm knocked their waterer sideways overnight. Always check water first.
8. When should I worry about chickens not laying eggs?
When they’re not laying AND looking rough, hiding, losing weight, or have weird poop. Healthy hens taking a seasonal break? No sweat. But combine no eggs with lethargy and I’m on high alert.
Wrapping Up
After sixteen years of backyard flocks across five states, I’ve learned that backyard chickens not laying eggs is rarely an emergency. Most times it’s just biology doing its thing. Watch your birds, not just the nesting boxes. Give them time to adjust after changes. And remember, a hen’s value isn’t measured only in eggs. Some of my best players retired years ago, but I still keep them because they’re part of the family. That’s the real secret nobody tells you about backyard chickens.
