
So… Why Aren’t My Chickens Laying Eggs? (And How to Fix It)
There’s nothing like that first egg. When one of my hens finally left a warm brown surprise in the nesting box, I practically threw her a party. But just a few months later… nothing. No eggs. Not even a cracked one in the dirt. I was checking the coop twice a day, wondering why aren’t my chickens laying eggs anymore?
If you’re in the same boat, don’t panic — you’re not alone. Chickens can be frustrating, especially when everything seemsright but the egg count suddenly drops to zero. I’ve been through this with multiple flocks now, and what I learned (the hard way) is that egg-laying can be thrown off by all sorts of little things — from molting and feed changes to daylight hours and stress in the coop.
Luckily, once you know what to look for, getting your girls back to laying is usually just a matter of a few simple tweaks.

When Should Chickens Start Laying Eggs?
First off, let’s make sure your chickens are even old enough to lay yet. I get emails from folks worried their hens are broken… but they’re only 14 weeks old. Most breeds don’t start laying until they’re somewhere between 16 and 24 weeks old. Lighter breeds like Leghorns can start a little sooner, while heavier heritage breeds like Orpingtons may take longer to get going.
If you’re unsure how old your flock is, or just want to double-check you’re not jumping the gun, I covered all of that in my guide right here:
👉 When Do Chickens Start Laying Eggs?
And if they’re older than six months and still not laying? Or they were laying and suddenly stopped? Then yep — something else is going on, and we’ll figure it out.

Common Reasons Chickens Stop Laying Eggs
If your hens used to lay like champs and now they’re on strike, there’s usually a reason hiding in plain sight. Here are the biggies I’ve seen firsthand:
- Molting – Chickens lose their feathers (usually in fall) and redirect all their energy into growing new ones. Egg-laying basically shuts off until the molt is done.
- Not Enough Light – Hens need about 14–16 hours of light a day to keep laying. In the darker months, production drops unless you add a light source inside the coop.
- Poor Nutrition – Switching to cheaper feed or not enough protein (at least 16%) can drop egg production fast.
- Too Hot or Too Cold – Chickens hate extremes. Heat waves or cold snaps will make some hens stop laying just to conserve energy.
- Stress – New flock mates, predators lurking around, loud noises, or even you rearranging the coop too much can mess up their rhythm.
- Illness or Parasites – If they look lethargic, have weird poop, or pale combs, it might be something medical holding things up.
- Nowhere Good to Lay – This one’s sneaky. If your girls don’t like the boxes, or if the boxes are dirty, overcrowded, or hard to access… they may just skip laying altogether.
And that last one? It was my biggest mistake for a long time.

Your Nesting Box Might Be the Problem
I’ll be honest — I used to think any old wooden box would do. I tossed in some straw, called it good, and wondered why aren’t my chickens laying eggs consistently. Turns out, chickens are picky. They want privacy, comfort, and safety — and they’ll lay elsewhere (or not at all) if they don’t get it.
After trying a few different styles, I finally set up a system that just works. This metal 10-compartment nesting box made a big difference. It stays clean, gives the girls plenty of room, and they actually use it.
Since adding that setup, my hens have laid way more consistently — no more rogue egg hunts under the coop or surprise piles in the corner.

How to Get Chickens to Lay Eggs in the Nest Box
Once you’ve got a good nesting setup, you still might find that some hens just don’t get the memo right away. I had one stubborn hen that laid in the feed bucket for a week straight. Here’s what helped me get all my girls laying where they’re supposed to:
- Use fake eggs or golf balls – Chickens love to lay where others already have. Drop a couple of ceramic eggs in the box to “suggest” the spot. It works like a charm.
- Keep boxes clean and cozy – No one wants to lay in a messy nest. I change out the bedding weekly and dust the area with a little coop-safe powder to keep mites away.
- Make boxes private and dark – I hang a small flap or curtain in front of each box. It makes the space feel safer, and hens seem more relaxed using them.
- Block off other dark corners – If your chickens are hiding eggs under the coop or in corners, seal those spots up until they get in the habit of using the nesting box.
And above all, consistency wins. Once they find a routine, they tend to stick to it.

Best Products to Help Chickens Lay Eggs Regularly
Let’s be real — there’s no magic gadget that makes hens lay eggs like a machine. But there are a few things that make it easier and more consistent. Here’s what I personally use and recommend:
- Metal 10-compartment nesting box – It’s well-vented, wall-mountable, and saves you from broken eggs and random laying spots. Total game-changer for my flock.
- Ceramic fake eggs – Drop them in to guide your hens to the right box. They also help deter egg-eating habits.
- Layer feed with 16–18% protein – Don’t skimp here. Cheap feed can kill egg production.
- Crushed oyster shell – Laying hens need calcium, and this helps with strong, uncracked eggshells.
- Low-watt solar coop light – If you’re dealing with short days and no eggs, adding 2–3 hours of light in the early morning can make a huge difference.

Everything above fits right into your daily routine and supports healthy egg-laying without being pushy or unnatural.
How Long Will It Take to See Eggs Again?
Once you’ve made changes — better feed, a cleaner coop, more light, improved nesting boxes — it’s natural to wonder when you’ll finally see those eggs rolling in again. In my experience, if the issue was light or nutrition, you could see results in as little as a week. If it was a molt or stress, it may take 3–6 weeks before things bounce back.
Just hang in there. I’ve had hens go on what felt like vacation, only to start laying like clockwork again once everything settled down. Don’t give up — consistent care pays off.

Should I Be Worried If My Chickens Still Aren’t Laying?
If you’ve tried everything and still aren’t seeing results after a month or more, it might be worth taking a closer look at your flock’s health. Check for mites, worms, or respiratory symptoms. A quick vet consult (if you have one nearby that deals with poultry) can sometimes catch what the eye misses.
Also, some older hens simply slow down or stop altogether. If your girls are over 2–3 years old, they may just be easing into retirement. It’s not always a problem — just part of the natural cycle.

Why Aren’t My Chickens Laying Eggs? Don’t Panic — Just Tweak
It’s easy to stress when your hens stop laying — I’ve been there, pacing around the coop wondering what went wrong. But after learning to tweak just a few key things, I realized most of the time the fix is simpler than you’d think.
If you’ve been asking why aren’t my chickens laying eggs, start with the basics: age, light, feed, and stress. Then take a good hard look at those nesting boxes. Upgrading mine with this metal setup completely turned things around.
When you get their environment dialed in just right, those eggs usually start showing up again — sometimes overnight. And trust me, there’s nothing like opening that nesting box and seeing a full row of fresh eggs waiting for you.

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