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How to Get More Eggs From Your Hens: Care, Feed and Light
Most laying problems are feed, light, or stress. Very few are solved by buying a supplement.
Direct answer: Hens lay best on a complete layer ration with 16–18% protein, free-choice oyster shell, 14–16 hours of light in winter, clean unfrozen water, and low stress. A healthy hen gives 4–6 eggs a week in her first laying year; no feed additive changes that ceiling.
Feed and calcium
- Layer pellets or crumbles: formulated, not mixed at home unless you know the analysis.
- Protein: 16–18%. Molting hens benefit from 18–20% for a few weeks.
- Calcium: oyster shell on the side, always. Eggshell quality responds within days.
- Scratch: a treat, no more than 10% of intake, preferably in the evening in winter.
- Grit: insoluble grit if they do not range on gravel.
Light in winter
Day length drives laying. Below about 14 hours of light, production falls. A single 9–10 W LED bulb on a timer, giving 14–16 hours total, keeps hens laying through winter. Put it on in the morning rather than the evening so the birds go to roost naturally.
Stress factors that cut laying
- Predator visits — even a near miss stops laying for days.
- Overcrowding — pecking order stress and feather loss.
- Heat above 85°F — reduced feed intake, smaller eggs.
- Sudden feed changes — switch gradually over a week.
- Parasites — mites and worms show as pale combs and poor feathers.
- Molting — a natural 8–12 week pause; do not fight it.
Realistic expectations
| Breed type | Eggs/year (peak) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Hybrid layers (ISA Brown, Golden Comet) | 280–320 | Best production, shorter productive life |
| Heritage dual-purpose (Orpington, Plymouth Rock) | 180–250 | Hardier, better forage, slower |
| Easter Eggers / Ameraucana | 200–250 | Coloured eggs, good temperament |
| Bantams | 100–150 | Small eggs, small appetite |
Year two drops 10–20%, year three another 20%. Replacing a third of the flock each year keeps production steady.
Frequently asked questions
Do egg-laying supplements work?
Most do not. Balanced feed, calcium, light, and low stress account for nearly all production. Be sceptical of anything promising 300 eggs as a guarantee.
Why did my hens stop laying?
Check in order: daylight hours, molting, feed quality, water, predators, parasites, and heat. Most pauses are seasonal.
Should I add light in summer?
No. Natural day length is already long enough; adding light adds stress and electricity cost.
See the small flock guide and coop basics for the housing side of production.
Frequently asked questions
Do egg-laying supplements work?
Most do not. Balanced feed, calcium, light and low stress account for nearly all production.
Why did my hens stop laying?
Check in order: daylight hours, molting, feed quality, water, predators, parasites and heat. Most pauses are seasonal.
Should I add light in summer?
No. Natural day length is already long enough; adding light adds stress and electricity cost.