Why Have My Hens Stopped Laying?

A sudden drop in egg production is one of the most common concerns for backyard chicken keepers. Your hens were laying well, and then — nothing. Before you worry, know this: in most cases, there is a clear and fixable reason. Here are the most common causes and what you can do about each one.

1. The Autumn Molt

The most common reason hens stop laying in fall is the annual molt. Chickens shed and regrow their feathers every year, typically triggered by shortening days. Feathers are made mostly of protein, so the body redirects resources away from egg production entirely during this period. The molt usually lasts 6–12 weeks. Once new feathers are fully grown, laying resumes on its own.

What to do: Increase protein in the diet during molt — high-protein feed (18–20%), black oil sunflower seeds, mealworms, or scrambled eggs all help speed feather regrowth and get hens back to laying sooner.

2. Reduced Daylight

Egg production is directly tied to light exposure. Hens need 14–16 hours of light per day to stimulate the hormones that trigger ovulation. As days shorten in autumn and winter, many hens slow down or stop laying completely — this is completely natural.

What to do: Add a low-wattage light in the coop on a timer to bring total light to 14–16 hours per day. Place the light at least 6 feet up. Note that this works best as supplemental morning light, not all-night light, which can stress birds. Keep in mind that using artificial light shortens a hen’s overall laying lifespan, since she only has a fixed number of eggs to lay in her lifetime.

3. Stress in the Coop

Chickens are highly sensitive to stress. Predator visits — even if no birds are taken — can cause hens to stop laying for days or weeks. Rats and mice are a common hidden stressor: their presence at night disrupts sleep, causes anxiety, and can spread disease. Other stressors include introducing new flock members, moving the coop, changes in feed, extreme temperatures, or overcrowding.

What to do: Secure the coop against rodents and predators. Check for gaps, gnaw marks, or droppings. Once the threat is removed and the flock settles, laying usually resumes within a few weeks.

4. Poor Nutrition

Hens need a balanced layer feed containing at least 16% protein, plus calcium for shell production. If they are free-ranging on poor pasture, getting too many treats, or sharing feed with non-laying birds, they may not be getting enough nutrients to support consistent egg production.

What to do: Ensure access to quality layer pellets at all times. Offer crushed oyster shell separately as a free-choice calcium supplement. Limit treats to no more than 10% of their daily diet.

5. Age

Hens lay best in their first two years. After that, production gradually declines — though most hens continue laying for several more years at reduced rates. Heritage breeds tend to decline more gently than production breeds like Leghorns or ISA Browns, which peak hard and drop off faster.

What to do: This is natural and expected. If consistent year-round production is a priority, plan for young pullets to join the flock every 1–2 years.

6. Brooding or Hidden Nests

A broody hen stops laying entirely while she sits on eggs. If you have a hen going broody frequently, she can account for a significant dip in production. Alternatively, some hens find hidden spots to lay — under bushes, in corners of the yard — and eggs simply aren’t being found.

What to do: Check around the yard for hidden nests. For broody hens, breaking the broody cycle early (by removing her from the nest repeatedly and using a wire-bottomed broody-breaker pen) gets her back to laying in about a week.

When to Be Concerned

If your hens show additional symptoms — lethargy, weight loss, pale combs, watery droppings, labored breathing, or swollen abdomen — the issue may be illness rather than a natural pause. Common health causes of stopped laying include internal laying, egg binding, respiratory infections, and parasites. In those cases, a veterinarian visit is warranted.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will it take for my hens to start laying again?

It depends on the cause. After molt, most hens resume within 4–8 weeks once the new feathers are in. After a stress event, laying usually picks back up within 1–3 weeks once the stressor is gone. Adding supplemental lighting can trigger a return to laying within 1–2 weeks.

Do I need to add lighting in winter to get eggs?

You don’t need to — it depends on your priorities. Artificial lighting gets you winter eggs but uses up your hens’ laying potential faster. Many keepers let hens rest naturally in winter and enjoy the eggs in spring. Both approaches are valid.

Can rats really stop chickens from laying?

Yes. Even if rats aren’t harming the birds directly, their presence at night causes stress and disrupted sleep, which suppresses egg production. Eliminating the infestation and securing the coop is the fix.

My hen laid well all summer and stopped in September — is that normal?

Very normal. Late summer into autumn is the classic timing for both the annual molt and the shortening-daylight slowdown. Most backyard keepers see production drop sharply from September through November.

Should I change their feed when they stop laying?

During molt, yes — switch to a higher-protein feed (18–20%) to support feather regrowth. Outside of molt, keep them on standard layer pellets with free-choice oyster shell. Sudden feed changes can themselves cause a laying pause, so transition gradually over a week if you’re switching brands.

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Related reading: complete egg laying guide | best egg laying breeds