How To Keep Your Hens Laying Eggs Regularly: 9 Simple Tips

Hens are an integral part of the farm; I would go as far as saying no farm is complete without hens. 

My grandmother had hens in her garden, my mom has them, and now, I have some in a small coop in my mom’s backyard. In the initial years, my hens laid eggs fairly irregularly; it was never consistent until the last year. 

So, what exactly did I do that my hens started laying eggs regularly? Well, you’re going to find that out in just a second.

First, Let Me Ask You, Did Your Hens Stop Laying Eggs? Why?

Hens can stop laying eggs for many reasons. Some of the more common reasons include: 

9 Simple Tips To Keep Hens Laying Regularly

Here are 9 simple tips to keep your hens laying eggs regularly: 

1: Make Sure They Get Enough Light

Hens need a minimum of 14-16 hours of sunlight every day to keep up their laying consistency. The minimum number of sun hours goes up even more in the wintertime when temperatures drop. 

2: Feed A Balanced Layer Diet

A balanced layer diet for hens includes plenty of calcium and high-quality protein that leads to healthy egg production.

Ensure their diet is not just scraps and waste food you have left after a dinner party; it should be thoughtful and deliberate. 

3: Keep Fresh, Clean Water Available

Believe it or not, hens can stop laying eggs even if they go just one day without water. Yep…you shouldn’t keep the birds thirsty for long, or else say goodbye to the eggs temporarily. 

4: Reduce Stress In The Coop

Overcrowding, loud noises, and or adding new flock members suddenly can place unwanted stress on your hens.

They’re extremely sensitive and delicate, meaning you can’t stress them out for long without facing consequences like halted egg production or laziness in the birds.

5: Add Oyster Shells For Calcium

Oyster shells are an excellent source of calcium for hens. If you find that the eggs your hens lay have a very delicate and easily breakable shell, offering them some calcium in the form of crushed oyster shells can help form strong eggshells later on.

You can find oyster shell powder at most feed stores, garden centers, or online.

6: Keep The Coop Clean & Comfortable

Keeping the coop clean is important for protecting your hens from unwanted diseases or insect attacks. Ensure clean bedding, good ventilation, and nesting boxes.

Clean the coop once every few days or weeks to keep the space hygienic and limit any chances of disease spreading.

7: Watch for Parasites or Illness

To keep your hens laying eggs consistently, it’s important that you take care of their health and vitality. Healthy hens lay better. 

Check their coop for mites, lice, or other issues that may have been developing for some time now. If the coop is damaged or infected beyond fixing, it may be time to get a clean, new coop for your hens to thrive in.

8: Limit Treats & Kitchen Scraps

Just like with a pet, treats are a good way to reward your hens. However, their diet shouldn’t consist of just treats! Treats are a poor source of nutrition and may not provide your hens with adequate vitamins and minerals needed for growth. 

9: Let Them Free-Range (If Possible)

The world shifting towards free-range eggs is a very positive trend in my eyes. Hens that are happy and can scratch and explore lay more eggs compared to ones that are locked in their coop all day long. 

Conclusion

It can be a sudden shock to find no eggs underneath your hen when you’re so used to collecting eggs from it every day.

However, let me assure you, it’s probably only temporary, and things should go back to normal once you figure out the underlying problem and address it with proper care. 

If you have any other tips for getting hens to lay more often, drop them down below! I’m sure our entire community will find your participation helpful.