A drop in egg production is never random — hens stop laying for a reason, and the reason is almost always one of ten things. Work through this list in order and you'll usually find the culprit before it costs you a full week of income.

1. Age

Pullets (young hens) don't start laying until 18–20 weeks of age, and production naturally declines after about a year to eighteen months. If your birds are too young — or ageing out — the "problem" is normal biology.

2. Daylight

Hens lay best with 14–16 hours of light a day. In Nigeria's shorter-day seasons, production dips unless you supplement with artificial light in the early morning.

3. Moulting

Hens stop laying while they replace their feathers during the annual moult. It looks alarming but it's temporary — support them with good feed and they'll resume.

4. Poor nutrition

Layers need the right protein (16–18%) and, critically, calcium for strong shells. Thin or soft shells are a calcium shortfall. See how to formulate layer feed in Nigeria.

5. Lack of water

A hen that's short of water stops laying within days. Clean, fresh water must always be available — a single missed day shows up in the egg count.

6. Stress

Fright, heat, moving birds, predators or a sudden change in routine all interrupt laying. Keep the routine calm and consistent.

7. Disease and parasites

Worms, coccidiosis, Newcastle disease and breathing infections all cut production. Check for worms and the symptoms of a sick chicken, and rule out disease early.

8. Broodiness

A broody hen stops laying and sits on her eggs. Remove her from the nest and break the broody cycle to bring her back into production.

9. Overcrowding

Too many birds in the space means stress, fighting and fewer eggs. Give layers enough space and enough nest boxes (about one per four to five hens).

10. Extreme weather

Heat stress and extreme cold both slow or stop laying. Provide shade, good airflow and cool water in the heat — see our guide to profitable egg production.

Key takeaways

  • Check age, light and feed first — they're the commonest causes.
  • A hen short of water or calcium stops laying fast.
  • Rule out worms and disease before blaming the weather.
  • Keep light at 14–16 hours and the routine calm.