chickens stopped laying! their life at stake! what do i do?

[Visualinq]

Chickens can stop laying for a number of reasons.
1. Cold weather
2. Molt
3. Stress
4. A little break

Could be any of these. If it is, they will resume laying. Patience is key!

Well it is pretty cold and I think my insulation is pretty bad but they were laying fine in the snow and cold, and how does a molt affect every chicken? So it might be the last 2 but I don't really understand them. What is stress in a chicken and what does it mean a little break?

 

[Abriana]

Well it is pretty cold and I think my insulation is pretty bad but they were laying fine in the snow and cold, and how does a molt affect every chicken? So it might be the last 2 but I don't really understand them. What is stress in a chicken and what does it mean a little break?

Stress could be anything from a dog ran by and startled them, to a hawk grabbed one. Hens don’t lay eggs for food, they lay them to hatch them. They wouldn’t want to bring life into a dangerous situation, so they stop laying for a while.
A break is exactly what it sounds like-a break. Sometimes a hen needs day or two to rest from laying.