Why Do Chickens Stop Laying Eggs in Winter?
Table of Contents
- Why Do Chickens Stop Laying Eggs in Winter?
- How Many Hours of Daylight Do Chickens Need to Lay Eggs?
- How to Keep Chickens Laying Eggs in Winter
- Frequently Asked Questions
Last Updated: 17 October 2026
Why Do Chickens Stop Laying Eggs in Winter?
Chickens stop laying in winter because shorter days give them less light. Egg laying is stimulated by light. When daylight drops, a hen's body slows or pauses egg production until spring.
At Chartley Chucks in Staffordshire, we hear this question every autumn. It is normal, not a sign your hens are ill.
A hen needs roughly 14 hours of daylight to lay well. In midwinter, most coops get far less. So the flock takes a natural break.
How Many Hours of Daylight Do Chickens Need to Lay Eggs?
Hens need about 14 hours of daylight to lay at full rate. Below 12 hours, most birds slow down or stop completely.
This is especially true for Pure Breeds, eg Brahma, Pekins, Silkies.
Hybrids such as Lohmans, speckledys, light sussex etc have been selectively bred to lay through the winter months.
Light hits a gland near the eye, triggering the hormones that drive egg production.
Add a small coop light on a timer, running it in the morning so hens settle before dark.
Keep a simple routine: let hens out at first light, add light only to reach 14 hours, and keep the same times daily.
How to Keep Chickens Laying Eggs in Winter
You keep chickens laying in winter by maximising light, feeding well, and cutting stress.
Start with daylight: let hens out early and do not lock them in too soon. An automatic door opener opens at dawn and closes at dusk, even when you are not home.
Layers Mash/Meal - Farmgate formulated for laying hens →
Chartley Chucks stocks automatic housing solutions, and our Nestera and Easicoop coops pair well with door openers.
Next, feed for production. Our Layers Pellets - Farmgate at £11.99 are formulated for laying hens, with calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D3 for strong shells and rich yolks.
Layers Pellets - Farmgate
Add a supplement in cold spells: Nettex Poultry Vitamin Boost at £11.95 supports health and egg quality, while Cheer-Up Chicken at £7.49 supports gut and immunity during moulting or stress.
Winter Fix |
What It Does |
When to Use |
|---|---|---|
Early release, late lock-up |
Adds daylight hours |
Every day |
Automatic door opener |
Opens at dawn, closes at dusk |
Daily, hands-off |
Layers pellets |
Supports shells and yolks |
All winter |
Vitamin tonic |
Boosts health and egg quality |
Cold spells, moulting |
Herbal supplement |
Supports gut and immunity |
Stress, moulting |
Finally, keep the coop dry and draught-free, and check drinkers have not frozen.
Most hens start laying again as days lengthen in late winter and early spring. If you would like help getting your flock through the colder months, we offer a 30-minute advice chat on keeping and caring for chickens, alongside UK delivery and collection from our Staffordshire base.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do chickens stop laying eggs completely in winter?
Most hens slow down or pause rather than stop entirely. Egg laying is driven by daylight, so once hours drop below roughly 14 a day, output falls. Some birds moult and take a full break, while pullets that came into lay late in the year may keep going. A few eggs a week from a small flock through December and January is normal, not a sign anything is wrong.
Should I use artificial light to keep hens laying in winter?
You can, but add it carefully. A small light on a timer that extends the day to about 14 hours, switched on in the morning rather than at night, keeps the routine natural. Never drop below 14 hours suddenly and never leave a light on all night. Hens need a proper dark period to rest, and sudden changes in lighting can trigger a moult instead of more eggs.
What should I feed chickens in winter to support egg laying?
A quality layers feed is the foundation, with calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D3 for shell quality. Chartley Chucks stocks Farmgate Layers Pellets at £11.99 and Layers Mash at £11.35, both formulated for laying hens. Add a vitamin tonic in the drinking water, such as Nettex Poultry Vitamin Boost at £11.95, and a herb mix like Cheer-Up Chicken at £7.49 during moulting or cold spells.
Winter can feel like a waiting game, but a few small changes keep your flock productive. Chartley Chucks can help with the right feed, supplements and automated housing to see your hens through the dark months. Browse our layers pellets, vitamin boost and coop ranges, or get in touch for advice on keeping and caring for your chickens. Just click to order and get your flock winter-ready.
