Why layer egg production drops, and how to bring it back

A sudden fall in eggs is the most common worry on a layer farm. The cause is almost always one of seven things. Work through them in order: the first ones are the quickest and cheapest to fix.

First, measure it properly

Use hen-day production:

Hen-day % = Eggs collected today ÷ Live hens today × 100

A healthy commercial flock rises to about 90–95% at peak (around 26–32 weeks of age) and then falls slowly, by roughly half a percent a week. A drop of 5% or more within a few days means something is wrong.

1. Light

Layers need about 16 hours of light a day, every day. Too little light, or light that changes suddenly (a power cut, a broken bulb, a new curtain), quickly lowers laying.

• Never reduce day length once the flock is laying.
• Use a timer so lights go on and off at the same time daily.

2. Feed

• A layer eats about 110–120 g of feed a day. Weigh what you give and what is left.
• Layer feed needs about 16–18% protein and 3.5–4% calcium. Grower feed or homemade feed without enough calcium gives thin shells and fewer eggs.
• A sudden change of feed brand or a bad batch (mouldy, stale) can drop production within days.

3. Water

A hen drinks about twice as much water as she eats feed, and more in summer. A blocked nipple line, warm water or a leak can lower eggs within 24 hours. Check every drinker each morning.

4. Heat stress

Above about 30 °C, hens eat less and lay fewer, smaller eggs with weak shells.

• Improve air flow; use fans and keep the roof shaded or insulated.
• Give cool, clean water; vitamin C and electrolytes in the water help on hot days.
• Feed in the cooler hours of early morning and evening.

5. Disease

Call your vet quickly if the drop comes with any of these:

• Coughing, sneezing or swollen faces
• Green or watery droppings, sudden deaths
• Soft-shelled, shell-less or misshapen eggs

Newcastle disease (Ranikhet), infectious bronchitis, egg drop syndrome and avian influenza can all stop laying. Vaccination during rearing is the best protection; keep the schedule your hatchery or vet gives you.

6. Parasites and stress

Worms and red mites quietly steal production. Check birds at night for mites and deworm on schedule. Loud noise, predators, rough handling, moving birds and overcrowding also cause short drops.

7. Age

After about 70–75 weeks most flocks are no longer profitable. If production has fallen slowly over months and nothing else is wrong, it is age. Compare feed cost per egg with the egg price to decide when to sell the flock.

A 10-minute daily routine

1. Count eggs and calculate hen-day %.
2. Check lights and every drinker.
3. Weigh the feed given and left over.
4. Note deaths and any sick birds.
5. Look at the shells and droppings.

Track it in the app

In FarmFlows, record daily eggs, feed and deaths for each flock under Layer flocks → Daily log. The app shows the laying rate and its trend, so a drop is visible on the first day, and you can record vaccines and medicine under Flock health.

Quick checklist

• 16 hours of light, on a timer
• 110–120 g layer feed per bird, 3.5–4% calcium
• Plenty of cool, clean water
• Shade and air flow above 30 °C
• Vaccines and deworming on schedule
• Watch hen-day % every day