Why Are My Hens Not Laying? 10 Common Reasons
Few things are more frustrating than a flock of healthy-looking hens that simply won't lay. Before you assume something is seriously wrong, work through this list — most cases of reduced or stopped egg production have a straightforward cause and a simple fix.
1. Not Enough Daylight
This is the #1 cause of reduced winter production. Hens need 14–16 hours of light per day to maintain peak laying. As days shorten in fall and winter, production naturally drops or stops entirely.
Fix: Add a timer-controlled LED bulb in the coop to supplement natural light. Turn it on in the early morning hours to bring total light to 14–16 hours. Use a warm-white bulb — about 40 watts of incandescent equivalent is enough for a standard coop.
2. Molting
Once a year — typically in fall — hens shed and regrow their feathers. During a molt, egg production drops significantly or stops entirely for 8–16 weeks. You'll see feather loss alongside the production drop.
Fix: Increase protein in the diet to support feather regrowth. Production will resume after the molt is complete. See: Molting Guide →
3. Too Many Treats and Scratch Grains
Overfeeding scratch grains, kitchen scraps, and treats dilutes the nutrition hens need for egg production. A hen filling up on scratch has less appetite for layer feed — and layer feed is where the protein and calcium for eggs comes from.
Fix: Limit treats and scratch to no more than 10% of daily intake. Make sure quality layer feed is always available and is the primary food source.
4. Age
Hens lay best in their first and second year. Production declines gradually after that. A 4-year-old hen may lay at 40–60% of her peak rate. This is normal and not a health problem.
Fix: Plan for flock rotation — add new point-of-lay pullets every 2–3 years to maintain consistent production. See: How Long Do Chickens Live and Lay? →
5. Stress
Chickens are sensitive to disruption. A predator attack, a new flock member, a change in routine, extreme weather, or even a change in feed can trigger a temporary laying pause.
Fix: Identify and eliminate the stressor where possible. Give hens a few days to settle. Production usually resumes on its own once the flock feels secure again.
6. Heat Stress
Temperatures above 85–90°F reduce laying. Above 95°F, production can stop entirely. Hens redirect energy from egg production to staying cool.
Fix: Provide shade, fresh cold water, and increased ventilation. Offer cooling treats like frozen watermelon. Production will resume when temperatures moderate.
7. Illness or Parasites
A hen fighting off disease or a heavy parasite load will redirect energy away from egg production. Mites, lice, worms, and respiratory illness are common culprits.
Fix: Do a thorough health check on each bird. Look for mites under wings and around the vent, check for weight loss, and observe breathing. Treat as appropriate. See: Common Chicken Health Problems →
8. Brooding
A broody hen stops laying and sits on a clutch of eggs (real or imaginary) trying to hatch them. She'll puff up, growl when disturbed, and refuse to leave the nesting box.
Fix: Remove her from the nesting box repeatedly throughout the day. A broody breaker — a wire-bottomed cage with food and water but no nesting material, elevated for airflow — breaks broodiness in most hens within 3–5 days.
9. Hidden Nest
Free-range hens sometimes find a preferred laying spot outside the coop — under a bush, in a corner of the barn, behind equipment. Your hens may be laying perfectly well; you just can't find the eggs.
Fix: Confine hens to the coop and run for a few days to reset their laying location. Then watch where they go when you let them out.
10. Wrong Feed or Poor Nutrition
Hens on the wrong feed for their life stage — or on low-quality feed — won't lay consistently. Pullets on layer feed too early, hens on grower feed past laying age, or birds on scratch-heavy diets all underperform.
Fix: Confirm your hens are on quality layer feed (15–17% protein, 3–4% calcium) appropriate for their age. Offer oyster shell free-choice. See: Complete Feed Guide →
Still not laying after addressing these? If a hen appears healthy but hasn't laid in 4–6 weeks outside of molt season, consult a poultry vet. Internal laying, reproductive issues, and other conditions can cause persistent production problems that require professional diagnosis.