5 Answers

http://blog.mcmurrayhatchery.com/2011/03/15/9-things-that-affect-how-well-hens-lay/

11 years ago. Rating: 5
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When a hen is molting, she will not lay eggs. 

11 years ago. Rating: 2
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If they start to crow in the morning you will know why.

11 years ago. Rating: 2
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Are they old enough, too old, sick, malnourished, or maybe they are in a moult.  This is when they go through a resting phase and do not lay.  Young birds should lay at about 5 mo. old, and should lay for about 10 months before they taper off and moult.  The next year, they will not lay as much, but the eggs will be larger in size.  Each successive year, they will lay less.  As for the daylight hour requirement, they should get 14 hrs. of daylight, either natural, artificial or a combination.  If you think about it, birds lay for reproductive purposes, and as with other birds, when the daylight gets longer, in spring, after the short days of winter.  So in commercial domestication of the chicken, we have fooled them into thinking it is spring all year long!  So hens lay more than lets say, a robin, who may lay a clutch or two of eggs over a 2 to 3 month period for the entire year.  So review your management of your hens, and try to determine which of the mentioned factors it could be.  If they are 2 plus years old, maybe you need to take them to the local livestock auction, and then purchase new pullets and begin a new flock!  Good luck.

11 years ago. Rating: 2
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They're just tired of having the bacon take all the credit.

11 years ago. Rating: 1
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