Backyard chicken forums and Facebook groups are loaded with hen Moms and Dads seeking answers to the question: “Why are my chickens not laying enough eggs?”
There’s a whole rabbit hole of reasons, including some pretty interesting conspiracy theories blaming major food producers. While I do dabble in that, I’m a problem-solution person, and I looked into the science behind the issue.
The TOP 6 REASONS WHY A HEN MAY NOT LAY according to ye olde internet are:
Age: Chickens typically start laying eggs when they are around 20 weeks old, but some breeds may start as early as 16 weeks or as late as 30 weeks. As chickens age, their egg production may decline.
Stress: Chickens that are stressed may stop laying eggs. Stressors could include changes in their environment, such as moving to a new coop or being exposed to predators or loud noises.
Poor Nutrition: Chickens require a balanced diet to produce eggs. If they are not getting enough nutrients, such as protein, calcium, or vitamin D, they may stop laying eggs.
Health Problems: Diseases or infections can affect a chicken’s ability to lay eggs. Common health problems include respiratory infections, mites or lice, and reproductive disorders.
Season: Chickens tend to lay fewer eggs during the winter months when the days are shorter and there is less sunlight. This is because their bodies need sunlight to produce certain hormones that regulate egg-laying.
Molting: Chickens periodically shed their feathers and grow new ones, a process known as molting. During this time, which can last several weeks, they may stop laying eggs.
If your hens are happy, fully feathered, of laying age, and the time of year is right, it’s time to take a look at their diet.
What are you feeding them?
Manufactured chicken food, also known as chicken feed, typically contains a blend of various grains, protein sources, vitamins, and minerals that are formulated to provide balanced nutrition for chickens at different stages of growth and production. The specific ingredients and proportions can vary depending on the brand and type of feed, but some common ingredients include:
Corn: A primary source of energy and carbohydrate.
Soybean Meal: A primary source of protein and amino acids.
Wheat: Provides carbohydrates and some protein.
Oats: Another source of carbohydrates and fiber.
Barley: Another source of carbohydrates and some protein.
Some more premium foods may claim to contain supplemental nutrients like:
Vitamins and Minerals: Chicken feed is often fortified with vitamins and minerals, such as calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, vitamin E, and various B vitamins, which are essential for the growth and health of chickens.
Additives: Some chicken feeds may contain additives such as probiotics, enzymes, or other supplements that are intended to support digestive health, immune function, or other aspects of chicken health and production.
The quality and nutritional value of chicken feed can vary depending on the source and processing methods. To ensure that your chickens are getting the best possible nutrition, it’s important to choose high-quality feed.
This can be VERY pricey.
However, what if you could fix your issue and do it in an economical and sustainable way?
While experimenting with my own flock, I discovered calcium to be the number one culprit when it came to production.
Here’s the deal:
Calcium is essential for the formation of the eggshell in chickens. The shell is primarily made up of calcium carbonate, a mineral that is obtained from the hen’s diet and stored in her bones. When a hen lays an egg, she draws on these calcium reserves to produce the shell.
If a hen doesn’t get enough calcium in her diet, she may not be able to produce eggs with strong, healthy shells. This can result in soft-shelled or thin-shelled eggs, which are more likely to break or crack during handling or transport. In severe cases, a lack of calcium can even lead to egg-laying problems, such as egg-binding, where the egg gets stuck in the hen’s reproductive tract. Seriously, this happened to my neighbor. One day I’ll get her full story on how she coaxed a stuck egg out of her favorite hen. (I know, we’re not supposed to have favorites, but you know we all do).
I fixed the laying issue within a week by upcycling existing eggshells and feeding them back to my hens. By the end of the week, I was collecting an egg apiece each day.
Here’s how I did it: (see the video on youtube)
Step one: collect the few eggs you do have (do not use store bought eggs, or you may introduce bacteria)
Step two: wash and use them however you like. We like to scramble them with Himalayan pink salt, heavy cream, and loads of butter.
Step three: store your cracked eggshells in a bowl in the fridge. I don’t even cover mine. They just rest in a bowl on the door.
Step four: Bake ’em! When you’ve collected several (I go with 20-30), you’re ready to cook them. Set your oven to 300 degrees. Spray your cookie sheet because eggshells are ruthless and not even Powerwash will clean them off. I thought of a silicone baking mat, but the jury’s still out on potential health hazards. Set them in the oven and let them bake for 10 minutes.
Step five: pulverize them! I use a Cuisinart food processor, and I pulse them a few times. Chickens LOVE grit, so I don’t reduce them to a powder; however, egg dust is an issue, so I always cover the top.
Step six: mix them with your feed. This should go directly into a feeder and should not be fed as scratch. You want to ensure the eggshells go into their mouths, not composting your deep litter bed.
That’s it. That’s how you do it. And you’ve saved yourself so much money by using something you already have on hand.
A 10lb bag of chicken feed oyster shell runs for $25 on Amazon.
Upcycling eggs from your backyard costs you nothing.
You’re also in control of the product because you’ve made it, and you’re not buying into the buyer-consumer industrial complex because you are the consumer feeding the consumer.
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Amber is a writer, educator, suburban homesteader, and mother of two, documenting her efforts to create a more self-sufficient and sustainable future.
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