Why Your Chickens Aren’t Laying Eggs: Causes & Solutions

Inside: Why your chickens aren’t laying eggs? Discover common causes like age, diet, stress, molting, and seasonal changes—plus simple fixes to boost egg production.

https://www.littleredacres.com/category/animals/chickens/If you’ve opened your nesting boxes expecting fresh eggs—only to find nothing—you’re definitely not alone. One of the most common concerns backyard chicken keepers have is: what do you do if your chickens aren’t laying eggs?

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The truth is, egg production can slow down or stop for many reasons. Some are completely normal, while others may need a quick fix.

Let’s walk through the most common causes so you can figure out exactly what’s going on with your flock.

Age Matters (Especially for New Layers)

If you have young hens, patience might be all you need.

Many people worry about 25 week old chickens not laying eggs, but depending on the breed, this can still be within a normal range. Most chickens begin laying between 18–24 weeks, but some breeds take longer.

What to expect:

Production breeds: start earlier
Heritage breeds: often start later
Stress or weather changes can delay the first eggs

What to do:
Give them time, ensure they’re on a quality layer feed, and provide plenty of daylight.

Seasonal Changes (Winter & Summer Slumps)

Winter Slowdown

If you're wondering, why have my chickens stopped laying eggs in winter, the answer is simple: lack of daylight.

Chickens need about 14–16 hours of light daily to maintain consistent laying. In winter, shorter days naturally reduce egg production.

Summer Slowdown

On the flip side, some people ask: why have my chickens stopped laying eggs in summer?

Extreme heat can stress chickens and reduce laying.

What to do:

In winter: consider supplemental lighting (optional for homesteaders)
In summer: provide shade, cool water, and ventilation

Poor Diet or Nutrition Issues

Egg production requires a lot of energy, protein, and calcium. If your hens aren’t getting the right nutrients, laying will drop off quickly.

Signs of poor nutrition:

Chickens not laying eggs for months
Thin shells or soft eggs
Lethargic birds

What to feed:

High-quality layer feed (16–18% protein)
Free-choice calcium (like oyster shells)
Occasional healthy treats (not too many!)

Stress (A Major Egg Killer)

Chickens are surprisingly sensitive creatures.

Common stressors include:

Predator attacks (even if unsuccessful)
Moving coops or environments
Adding new birds
Loud noises or disruptions

Even small stress events can cause hens to stop laying temporarily.

What to do:
Keep their environment calm, consistent, and safe.

Dirty Coop Conditions

A big question people ask is: will chickens stop laying if coop is dirty?

Short answer: yes, they can.

Dirty coops can lead to:

Stress
Disease
Parasites

And all of those impact egg production.

Best practices:

Clean bedding regularly
Keep nesting boxes dry and fresh
Ensure proper ventilation

Molting (Totally Normal)

Molting usually happens once a year, often in the fall. During this time, chickens lose and regrow feathers, and egg laying often stops completely.

This can look alarming if you’re not expecting it.

What to do:

Increase protein intake
Avoid stress
Be patient (laying resumes after molt)

Broodiness

Some hens decide they want to sit on eggs—even if there aren’t any.

Broody hens will:

Stay in nesting boxes all day
Puff up and act defensive
Stop laying entirely

What to do:
If you don’t want chicks, gently break broodiness by removing them from the nesting box regularly.

Health Problems or Parasites

If your chickens have stopped laying eggs for months and nothing else seems off, health could be the issue.

Watch for:

Mites or lice
Worms
Weight loss
Pale combs

What to do:
Inspect your flock regularly and treat any issues promptly.

Why Aren’t Chickens Laying Eggs Every Day?

Another common concern: why are my chickens not laying eggs every day?

Here’s the reality—most chickens don’t lay daily forever.

Even great layers typically produce:

4–6 eggs per week
Less as they age

Production naturally slows over time.

Egg Abnormalities (Wrinkled or Odd Eggs)

If your hens are laying—but eggs look strange—you might be wondering:

Why do some chickens lay wrinkled eggs?

Why are my hens laying wrinkled eggs?

Wrinkled eggs can be caused by:

Stress
Illness
Calcium imbalance
Aging hens

Occasional odd eggs are normal—but frequent issues may need attention.

Why Do Chickens Lay Different Colored Eggs?

This one confuses a lot of beginners!

Why do chickens lay colored eggs?

Egg color is determined by breed genetics.

Examples:

White eggs → White Leghorns
Brown eggs → Rhode Island Reds
Blue/green eggs → Easter Eggers, Ameraucanas

It doesn’t affect taste or nutrition—just a fun bonus for your egg basket.

What Do You Do If Your Chickens Aren’t Laying Eggs?

If you’re trying to troubleshoot quickly, here’s a simple checklist:

Check their age
Evaluate daylight hours
Improve feed quality
Reduce stress
Clean the coop
Look for signs of molt or broodiness
Check for parasites or illness

In most cases, the issue is temporary and easy to fix.

When your chickens stop laying, it’s easy to worry—but in most cases, it’s completely normal and fixable.

Whether it’s seasonal changes, diet, stress, or age, your hens are usually just responding to their environment.

Once you understand the “why,” getting them back on track becomes much easier—and before you know it, those nesting boxes will be full again.

FAQ

Why have my chickens stopped laying eggs suddenly?
Sudden stops are usually caused by stress, predators, diet changes, or weather shifts.

Can chickens stop laying eggs permanently?
Older hens will slow down significantly, but most don’t completely stop unless they’re very old or unhealthy.

How long can chickens go without laying eggs?
It depends on the cause—molting can pause laying for weeks, while winter slowdowns can last months.