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EmailLearn what to do when your chickens stop laying eggs. The final chapter in the oval of life.
(This is the sixth and final post in our Raising Chickens 101 beginner series.)
Sooner or later, your chickens will stop laying eggs. When depends on the chicken. Most of ours went “off lay” as the days grew shorter. They laid fewer and fewer eggs until one day they simply stopped. One or two continued to lay sporadically throughout the cold, dark days of winter, although most of those eggs froze and cracked before we got out to collect them. (We gave them to the dog, usually raw and right on the spot. He had a lovely, shiny coat and produced sulfurous gas at inopportune moments.)
You can extend the laying period for your hens by putting a light hooked to a timer in the henhouse. This will give the hens a couple of extra hours of artificial daylight, but the natural pattern for most hens is to stop laying in the winter.
As the hens go off lay, you have two ways of dealing with them. One is to resign yourself to a lot of chicken stew over the winter. Year-old hens usually aren’t tender enough to roast. The other way is to give them the winter off and wait. They’ll begin laying again in the spring. (I’ve heard people say that they couldn’t keep chickens because “you have to kill them when they stop laying eggs.” Not true. We never killed a hen simply because she stopped laying.)
We found that our older hens usually produce fewer eggs, but larger ones. In a production flock, this is a problem because consistency of supply and size is important. In the home flock, who cares? (Another advantage to older hens: They’re used to you and are less flighty and panicky.)
Even if you decide to keep your laying hens until they die of old age, you will eventually have to dispose of a chicken. Maybe you’ll have a sick bird, an overaggressive rooster, a hen injured by a predator, or a chicken that eats eggs. Maybe that mixed batch of chicks will turn out to be half cockerels, and who needs six roosters for six hens? Trust me, the hens won’t thank you!
The simplest way to kill a chicken—so I’m told as I’ve never done this and I’ve never seen it done—is to wring its neck. You have to be quick and forceful to avoid causing pain. We used the traditional chop: cutting the chicken’s throat. As far as I understand, these are the two main ways to kill a chicken. Shooting is also a possibility, but it’s noisy and probably also illegal in most places.
An axe and a block (a stump or upended round of firewood will do, as long as it’s stable) are probably the simplest method for people new to this age-old practice. There are a couple of ways to hypnotize or calm the chicken. One is to place the chicken breast-down on a flat surface while holding its legs. Wave a piece of chalk in front of the chicken’s beak until you have the bird’s attention, then draw a line straight out from the beak for 12 to 18 inches. The bird will focus on the line and not move or flap.
As most chopping blocks aren’t that long, you might want to use an alternate method. Lay the bird on its side, with one wing under it. Tap your finger in front once at the point of the beak (but not touching), then about four inches in front of the beak. Repeat alternating taps until the bird calms down and holds still.
If you’re worried about your aim, you can pound two long nails into the stump, far enough apart to span the chicken’s neck but close enough together to keep its head from slipping through. Lay the chicken on the block with its neck between the nails and apply enough tension to the legs to stretch the neck and keep the bird in place. Then use the axe. If you intend to eat the chicken, hold it up by the legs to let the blood drain. There will be flapping, but rest assured that the bird is dead and doesn’t feel any pain.
Have a pot of scalding (140° to 160°F) water ready. If you don’t have a thermometer, you can tell that the water is hot enough if you can see your face reflected in it. Dip the bird for 20 to 30 seconds. Afterwards you can wipe the feathers off with your hand. Chop off the feet, then cut around the cloaca (anus—chickens use the same opening for excretion and egg-laying), being careful not to nick the intestines, and scoop the innards out with your hand. Rinse with cold water. If you can get all of this done in 20 minutes while the oven preheats, you can cook the bird immediately; otherwise, let it rest for 24 hours, until rigor mortis relaxes.
People who raise their own food know where it comes from, what’s gone into it, and how it’s been treated. Whether your chickens are ultimately intended for the table or killed simply to end pain or illness and then buried in the back forty, remember that this is a responsibility that comes with the job. Doing it, and doing it well, means that you’re doing your best by your birds.
Elizabeth Creith has fifteen years of experience keeping chickens, ducks, geese and turkeys on her farm in Northern Ontario. She currently dreams of a new flock of fancy chickens. Elizabeth and her husband also have six and a half years experience running a pet store. On top of that, she's kept more animals than you can imagine from cats to cockatoos!
Comments
My broody hen sat on 11 eggs
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By Carol Jacquard on June 7
My broody hen sat on 11 eggs for 21 days and only one chick hatched out. She continued to sit for two more days...nothing more hatched. On the third day she pecked one egg open and there was a fully formed chick inside but it was not alive. The remaining eggs feel heavy so expect they also have chicks. Why are they not hatching? Any help would be appreciated.
I have a 3 year old
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By peggy Valiante on May 28
I have a 3 year old roadisland red that wants to go to the nesting box, but no egg, i have checked and she is not egg bound, could she just be at the end of her laying cycle at 3?
Hello Elizabeth, I have 3
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By Teda
Hello Elizabeth, I have 3 Barred Rocks hens that are just over one year old. They all started laying at 6.5 months old last October with increasing regularity. As the length of day decreased, I supplemented with artificial light on a timer, and they kept laying. Then in December one pullet stopped laying. Her eggs always had a slight blood smear on the shell. She has not laid an egg since then and has gotten fat. Here it is May, she's a full-grown hen, and a nonlayer. Do you think she will ever lay again? Or, is she destined for the stewpot? Please advise, and thank you.
My 6 month old hens suddenly
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By Tansey
My 6 month old hens suddenly stopped producing. I have 4 production reds. I was getting 3-4 everyday. The last week I am getting 1-2. I feed them 20% protein pellets but they free range my 1/3 acre lot and eat a very modest amount of feed. Days are getting longer not shorter. Any ideas?
I have 1 leghorn 2 sexlinks 1
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By 4 ladies
I have 1 leghorn 2 sexlinks 1 barred rock. Every night i take all the left overs from the day, I call them they come running they go in the run and wait for the food they also get chicken feed. I also heard cat food has alot of protein so they eat the cat food. They will produce again be patient
I have 4 hens a year old and
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By 4 ladies
I have 4 hens a year old and get 3-4 eggs everyday they are free range but they have wondered to far lately so i bought a dog run and put the coop in the run across the yard away from the pourch and kept them in the run for a week letting them out in short sperts thinking they will stay home. Now I get 1-2 eggs. Did I blow it by moving the coop.. Are they unhappy now
Sense the last time i wrote.
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By 4 ladies
Sense the last time i wrote. My girls have started laying again. I spoin my chickens i also give them table scrapes being careful not to give them spicy foods.. They love cooked rice. They run to me when i come outside. I may one day get more, I heard they will pick on chicks or new chickens so I guess i will wait.
Is it possible that they are
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By Almanac Staff
Is it possible that they are laying their eggs somewhere other than their Coop? Assuming their coop allows plenty of space, we would suggest that you only let them out in the early afternoon for a couple weeks. Then, do not let them out until 10 am or so--as chickens usually lay early in the day once they get established.
I live in North Florida,
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By Tallymom
I live in North Florida, which is beginning to feel - temperature wise - like living in Central Florida. Which breeds of chickens do best in very hot temperatures with high humidity?
Our readers like Rhode Island
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By Almanac Staff
Our readers like Rhode Island Reds for hot weather. You may find this breed chart helpful:
http://www.ithaca.edu/staff/jhenderson/chooks/chooks.html
I live in sunny north
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By Kia
I live in sunny north queensland austalia and I have 8 chooks. The chooks are not a year old and we are getting very few eggs. I thought maybe they were laying elsewhere so I have locked them up till 5 pm and have got no eggs. Why is this?
Hens need a lot of light to
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By Almanac Staff
Hens need a lot of light to lay eggs and light in your area is decreasing. The usual issue is that the hens are moulting and may not lay again for a few months...but they will eventually start again.
Hi, I wonder if my hen
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By lategirl
Hi, I wonder if my hen hatches her own chicks, will they be safe in the pen or ranging free with the rest of the flock or do I need to keep her in a separate area?
The baby needs to be kept
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By Almanac Staff
The baby needs to be kept separate and safe from other hens who can get jealous and might kill the chick. Also: When the baby is ready to hatch do not assist!
i have 8 female chicken but
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By Eyenader
i have 8 female chicken but no egg what am i doing wrong please
Hi Eyenader, If you aren't
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By Celeste Longacre
Hi Eyenader,
If you aren't giving your chickens extra (timed) light in the winter, they won't lay eggs. Or, you may not be feeding them the right kind of food. Talk to the chicken expert where you buy their food.
I am thinking about raising
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By Kathryn Williams
I am thinking about raising chicks! I read all your information but I was wondering if you have any advice for me? I am planning on getting my chicks from Wilco. If you have any advice it would be greatly appreciated i have never had chickens before but I think it will be a great experience!Thanks!
I have 18 hens. They are
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By Dee Hipper
I have 18 hens. They are divided into three seperate coops-the way I bought the groupings. I do spoil mine, more so in these colder months. I give them all the table scraps. I have heat lamps in all three coops. I have coops wrapped with clear plastic on all the wire area's in order to let the natural light in. If day is over cast I do turn on just regular 60wtt light for them to get that "sunlight" feel. Have been getting 11-12 eggs daily. Five of my "ladies" are 2yrs plus. I will also say they do enjoyed being talked to, so if you even leave a radio on for them-could possibly help. Good luck to you.
Oh, Kim! I've never heard of
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By Elizabeth Creith
Oh, Kim! I've never heard of hens being so incredibly stubborn!
A couple of things come to mind. Are you feeding a layer mash or pellet? Hens need calcium for shell production and the muscle tone to lay - you might want to give them some chicken grit (crushed oyster shell). Are they getting actual sunlight?
Are the hens suited to your climate? Some breeds want warmer weather, and some cooler.
If it's any consolation, my hens aren't laying up to expectations either this year. I have Harcos, which should be laying at 75% - nine eggs per day per twelve hens. I've had them before and got that kind of production. This year I'm getting two to four eggs from eleven hens.
If all else fails, you may want to start with new chickens.
Good luck - let me know how it goes!
Elizabeth
I've heard that sometimes
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By lategirl
I've heard that sometimes hens will find a spot to lay eggs out of the pen somewhere. I wonder if this is what is happening?
I have a question, I have
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By KIM Mi
I have a question, I have read your info about chickens that have stopped laying, I'm not sure if winter is my issue or not. I have 10 females ranging in age from 2 yrs to 1 yr old, they free range get plenty of feed but I only get 1 eggs every few days from my oldest 2 yr old hen the 9 others nothing, I got a couple here and there during summer but most eggs I got at any one time was 4 and that was only 1 or 2 occasions. I have 4 nest boxes in coop, 1 rooster, but after the youngest were 1 yr I just thought I'd be getting more eggs per day. All were picked as breeds that were supposed to be heavy egg layers too. Not sure what may be going on. If you have any ideas, I'd love to hear them! Thanks
I really like your
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By Cindy A
I really like your information, Elizabeth! My parents grew up on farms but lived in a small town where I was born. We moved to a farm when I was 12. My dad had some small variations on your suggestions: he had a wide shelf with small trees on shallow wedges for the perch. That made it easy to just remove the perch and use a hoe or shovel to scrape the manure into a bucket and carry to the garden. Because of the shelf, we didn't have any flooring - the coop was built on top of concrete foundation. (Wear shoes when walking inside!) He also had a smaller coop than you recommended, but we had a larger area for the chickens to roam as well. One thing you didn't mention is that the owner might need to trim some wing feathers to keep chickens from flying over fences when chasing grasshoppers or other insects! I can say that I enjoyed the chickens as a kid -- I learned to imitate all of them -- cluck, crow, and peep, so now my kids just think I'm weird!
LOL, my kids and their
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By Toni Probst
LOL, my kids and their friends think I am also, yes, I clip the wing on each bird to prevent the grass is greener on the other side issue. But yes, I lvoe my birds, watching them, the kids love them it is such a great way to teach them about life and all, we homeschool also. But beep cock and crow away, they will laugh with you remembering the good ole days soon.
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