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Why are my chickens not laying? 10 causes and what to check

Most egg slumps have a simple cause. Work through the list from the most common.

Updated November 2026 · 8 min read

A clean straw-lined nest inside a dim coop, lit by a small window
Photo: mazaletel, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr
The short version
  • Short days are the most common cause: UMN says hens need at least 12–14 hours of light a day to keep laying.
  • Molt usually comes in fall; the Merck Veterinary Manual says it typically lasts 3–4 months.
  • Pullets start at about 20 weeks (UMN); production peaks in the first two years and then declines.
  • A broody hen stops laying and can stay broody 3–4 weeks if left alone (Merck).
  • A sudden drop with sick or dying birds needs a call to your veterinarian, state poultry lab or USDA (1-866-536-7593).

Why are my chickens not laying? Nearly every keeper asks it, usually in October or November. In most cases the answer is normal biology: shorter days, the yearly molt, a broody hen or a flock that is simply getting older. Less often it is something you can fix quickly, such as feed diluted with treats, heat stress or eggs disappearing to a hidden nest or a snake.

Work through the ten causes below roughly in order of how common they are. The figures come from the University of Minnesota, Penn State, Utah State and the Merck Veterinary Manual.

Quick check: what is your hen telling you?

Egg slump troubleshooter

ClueMost likely causeWhat to do
Fall or winter, all hens slowShort daysWait for spring, or add light to about 14 h (UMN)
Feathers everywhere, new pin feathersMoltHigher-protein feed, patience: 3–4 months (Merck)
One hen glued to the nest, puffed and growlingBroodyLet her hatch or break the brood
Young birds under 5–6 monthsNot yet of ageWait; most start about 20 weeks (UMN)
Lots of treats or scratchDiluted dietCut treats; complete layer feed first
Hot spell, pantingHeat stressShade, air, water (UMN)
New birds, predator scare, moveStressGive it a few weeks
Hens laying, eggs missingHidden nest, egg eating, rats or snakesSearch the yard; check the coop for gaps
Pale combs, mites, sick or dying birdsParasites or diseaseVet or state poultry lab; report unusual deaths

Source: UMN Extension; Merck Veterinary Manual; University of Maryland Extension

A hen settled in a wooden nest box beside a freshly laid egg
A hen in the nest box beside her egg.Photo: Leslie Seaton from Seattle, WA, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
12–14 hDaily light hens need to keep layingUMN Extension
3–4 moTypical length of a moltMerck Veterinary Manual
3–4 wkBroodiness can last, if left aloneMerck Veterinary Manual
20 wkTypical age at first eggUMN Extension

1. Are the days too short?

Laying is triggered by day length. UMN says hens need at least 12–14 hours of light a day to keep laying, and that production drops as daylight shrinks in fall. In most of the US, natural days fall below that from autumn to early spring.

You can add light, but it is optional. UMN suggests about 14 hours, added before sunrise on a timer so birds are not left in the dark off the roost. Penn State's production program warns never to exceed 16 hours of light a day for laying hens. The Merck Veterinary Manual notes that winter lighting raises winter egg numbers but not a hen's lifetime total, and constant light can stress birds.

2. Is she molting?

Mature hens molt about once a year, normally in fall (Utah State). Feathers drop in order, head and neck first, then body, wings and tail, and new pin feathers grow in. Utah State explains that laying and molting both take a lot of energy, so most hens stop or slow down, and hens that keep laying molt more slowly. Merck says a molt typically lasts 3–4 months.

A barred hen in molt showing new blue-grey pin feathers
New pin feathers during a molt.Photo: thomas pix, CC BY 2.0, via Flickr

Help them through it with a complete feed that is a little higher in protein, fewer low-protein treats and gentle handling. Molting and broody hens have their own guide: molting and broody hens.

3. Is she too young, or getting older?

UMN says pullets usually begin laying at about 20 weeks, or about 6 months, though breed and season shift it: chicks hatched in late summer may not start until the days lengthen. Production peaks in the first two years, and hens can keep laying at a lower rate for 5–10 years (UMN).

Utah State gives a hands-on check. A hen in lay has a soft, moist vent, a bright red comb and room for three to four fingers between the pelvic bones below the vent; a non-layer has a dry, shrunken vent, a pale comb and room for one or two fingers. In yellow-skinned breeds, pigment fades from the vent, eye ring, beak and legs in order as laying continues.

4. Is she broody?

A broody hen sits tight on the nest, flattens and growls when you reach under her, and stops laying. Merck says broodiness can last 3–4 weeks if left alone and that moving the hen to a wire-floored cage usually breaks it within 2–3 days. Collecting eggs promptly helps prevent it. Options and a step-by-step are in molting and broody hens.

A dark broody hen sitting tight in a straw nest inside a cardboard box
A broody hen stops laying while she sits.Photo: Cleur Monie, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

5. Is the diet balanced?

Penn State says layer feed should contain at least 16% crude protein and 3.5% calcium. If hens fill up on scratch, bread or kitchen scraps, they eat less of that feed and egg numbers fall. Keep treats small, feed a complete layer ration and offer oyster shell and grit on the side (UMN). Running out of feed or water for even a day can pause laying.

Use the feed and egg cost calculator to check you are buying enough feed for the flock, and compare feeds in best layer feed.

6–7. Is it heat or stress?

UMN says feed intake and production drop as temperatures approach 85°F. Shade, airflow and extra cool water help; see keeping chickens cool in summer heat.

Stress also pauses laying: a predator attack at night, new birds, a move, loud construction or rough handling. Penn State notes that abrupt lighting changes can disrupt laying too. Give the flock a few calm weeks, and fix any predator route; see how to protect chickens from predators.

8–9. Are eggs being laid, then disappearing?

Free-ranging hens often start a hidden nest under a shrub or deck. Keep birds in the run for a few days so they relearn the nest boxes. Dim, private nests at least 12 × 12 in, with clean bedding, encourage use (Penn State); add a fake egg or golf ball as a hint.

A hen hiding a nest in loose hay inside a barn
Free-range hens may hide a nest.Photo: USDAgov, Public domain, via Flickr

Eggs can also vanish to predators. Maryland Extension lists opossums, skunks, rats, cats, snakes and birds of prey as egg and chick takers, and suggests limiting gaps over ¼ in where birds roost to keep snakes out. Hens can learn to eat eggs too, often after a shell breaks; collect eggs at least twice a day (UMN) and keep oyster shell available for strong shells.

10. Could it be parasites or illness?

Mites and lice, worms and disease can all cut egg production. Check birds at night with a flashlight under the vent and wings for mites. If you treat, choose a product labeled for poultry, use it per the label and follow the label's egg-withdrawal time. Few drugs are approved for laying hens; for anything else, ask a veterinarian.

Sudden drop plus sick or dead birds: call for helpA sudden fall in egg production together with lethargy, breathing problems, swelling or sudden deaths can be a sign of serious disease, including bird flu. USDA APHIS asks backyard keepers to report sick birds or unusual deaths to the state veterinarian or USDA at 1-866-536-7593. For other illness, contact a veterinarian or your state poultry lab.Source: USDA APHIS, Defend the Flock

More on what to watch for: common chicken illnesses and first aid and bird flu and backyard biosecurity. When you handle birds or eggs, wash hands afterward (CDC).

Mistakes to avoid when hens stop laying

  • Medicating a healthy flock for a seasonal slump. Short days and molt are normal.
  • Adding light after sunset or running lights 24/7. Add light in the morning and stay at or under 16 hours (Penn State).
  • Piling on treats to "help" a molting hen. It dilutes protein.
  • Using a wormer or mite product off-label or ignoring its egg-withdrawal time.
  • Overlooking a predator that takes eggs rather than birds.
  • Ignoring a sudden drop with sick birds. Call your vet, state poultry lab or USDA.

Find feed, oyster shell and supplements in the feed and supplements hub, and nest pads and coop care in health, safety and cleaning. A weekly nest and egg check is on the flock care checklist.

Verdict

Start with the calendar: in fall and winter, short days and molt explain most egg slumps, and both resolve on their own. If the season does not explain it, check age, broodiness, feed and treats, heat and stress, then hunt for hidden nests and egg thieves. A sudden drop with sick birds is a call to your veterinarian or state poultry lab.

Feed and egg cost calculatorType your bag price and size, flock size and eggs per week: see feed per day, how long a bag lasts, monthly…Flock care checklistDaily, weekly, monthly and seasonal backyard chicken chores in one printable checklist. Ticks reset each…

Questions

Why have my chickens suddenly stopped laying?
The most common reasons are shorter days, molt, broodiness, stress or heat. If birds also look sick or some die suddenly, contact your veterinarian, state poultry lab or USDA at 1-866-536-7593.
Do chickens stop laying in winter?
Many slow down or stop, because UMN says hens need at least 12–14 hours of light a day to keep laying. Light added before sunrise can keep some eggs coming.
How long do chickens stop laying when molting?
A molt typically lasts 3–4 months, sometimes longer (Merck Veterinary Manual). Many hens stop laying for much of that time.
At what age do chickens stop laying eggs?
Hens rarely stop completely, but production peaks in the first two years and then declines. UMN says hens can keep laying for 5–10 years at a lower rate.
How can I tell if my hen is laying?
Utah State: a laying hen has a soft, moist vent, a bright red comb and room for three to four fingers between the pelvic bones. A non-layer has a dry vent, a pale comb and a narrower gap.
Can too many treats stop egg production?
Yes. Treats dilute a layer feed that should have at least 16% protein and 3.5% calcium (Penn State). Keep treats small.
Do hens need a rooster to lay eggs?
No. Hens lay without a rooster; a rooster only makes the eggs fertile.

Sources

  1. University of Minnesota Extension, Raising chickens for eggs
  2. University of Minnesota Extension, Raising layer chicks and pullets
  3. Merck Veterinary Manual, Laying and reproduction in backyard poultry
  4. Utah State University Extension, Molting and determining production of laying hens
  5. Penn State Extension, Small-scale egg production (organic and conventional)
  6. Penn State Extension, Small-Scale Poultry Housing
  7. University of Minnesota Extension, Preventing heat stress in poultry
  8. University of Maryland Extension, Prevention of predation
  9. USDA APHIS, Defend the Flock