What causes a hen to stop laying?

[Col1948]

I've read various threads on hens not laying and some say the hen could be egg bound, but what if it is not egg bound?

I've read they can stop laying sometimes for a while, I have one hen that laid regularly every day, a good hard shell medium size egg, then she stopped, she hasn't been in the nest now for around a week, she is not showing any signs of egg bound, so she has just stopped, is that normal and if so when will she most likely start again?

On this subject is it best just to leave her to start of her own accord or is there something I can do to get her to start again, I don't want to make her ill or anything by forcing the issue?

 

[N F C]

Maybe she's starting to molt? It's normal for a molting bird to not lay when that starts.

 

[Shadrach]

I've read various threads on hens not laying and some say the hen could be egg bound, but what if it is not egg bound?

I've read they can stop laying sometimes for a while, I have one hen that laid regularly every day, a good hard shell medium size egg, then she stopped, she hasn't been in the nest now for around a week, she is not showing any signs of egg bound, so she has just stopped, is that normal and if so when will she most likely start again?

On this subject is it best just to leave her to start of her own accord or is there something I can do to get her to start again, I don't want to make her ill or anything by forcing the issue?

Assuming there are no health related issues affecting egg laying in a hen there are three other main factors that do.

A hens egg laying cycle is controlled by light levels. In ‘natural’ conditions as winter approaches there are fewer hours of daylight and many hens stop laying over the winter months. Most of the hens here have stopped laying now.

The breed of the hen makes a difference. Some breeds lay in lower light levels than others.

There is one bantam hen here that has in the past laid for eleven months of the year. She is getting on a bit now, 9 years old, and has just stopped laying.


The age of the hen is an often overlooked factor. Hens are most productive early in their lives and as they age they lay fewer eggs each year until they finally stop laying altogether. The eldest Maran here, 8 years old, laid 9 eggs this year.

There are still two young hens laying here and both are under two years old.

 

[Shadrach]

Maybe she's starting to molt? It's normal for a molting bird to not lay when that starts.

Recent studies indicate a hens egg laying cycle is independent of the moult.

 

[Col1948]

Thanks guys, that has put my mind at ease. Funny now you mention molting, I've noticed some small feathers on the coop floor, I thought it was from the pecking order on the roost type of thing, but they are from the one that has stopped laying a Cuckoo Maran.

 

[aart]

Recent studies indicate a hens egg laying cycle is independent of the moult.

But they do usually go hand in hand

but they are from the one that has stopped laying a Cuckoo Maran.

There ya go then, she could very well have begun to molt..... plus Marans can be not the most stellar layers.
I forgot, your birds are older than a year....do you know their ages in months??

 

[Shadrach]

But they do usually go hand in hand

True for many I believe.
In the past certainly the belief was the hens moult and the termination of egg laying for the season were biologically connected. This has been proven incorrect.

It’s a bit like the statistician who proved the blue flashing lights caused accidents,
and the egg song being an involuntary vocalisation due to egg laying.

 

[aart]

True for many I believe.
In the past certainly the belief was the hens moult and the termination of egg laying for the season were biologically connected. This has been proven incorrect.

Maybe not precisely biologically, tho growing feathers and making eggs both take a lot of resources(nutrients)...I would think growing feathers trumps making eggs for most birds.
They certainly can be seasonally connected, shortening days triggers molt and can stop laying.

 

[Shadrach]

I would think growing feathers trumps making eggs for most birds.

I think you are probably right.

 

[RodNTN]

They're probably molting, some of my hens have started molting and their egg production is starting to slow down.