Understanding and Improving Chickens’ Egg Laying: Coop Staying and Predators

To understand why your chickens have been laying fewer eggs, it’s important to consider several factors, including the impact of cooping them up and the threat of predators like hawks. This article will explore the reasons behind the decrease in egg production and provide practical solutions to help your hens get back to their regular laying routines.

The Impact of Cooping Up Chickens

Cooping up chickens can lead to a decrease in egg production. Chickens, like all birds, are creatures of habit. Any significant change to their daily routines, such as being kept cooped up for extended periods, can disrupt their natural laying cycles (Helman, 2021). This disruption is due to changes in several key factors:

Light Exposure: Chickens require a consistent amount of light to maintain their egg-laying patterns. When cooped up, they have less natural light exposure, which can directly impact their ovulatory cycles (Smith, 2022).

Physical Activity: Free-ranging chickens often have more opportunities for physical activity, such as walking and foraging. Cage confinement eliminates these activities, leading to a decrease in their overall energy levels and physical fitness (Johnson, 2023).

Nutritional Intake: Free-ranging chickens can supplement their diet with insects, seeds, and other natural foods. Cooped-up chickens rely solely on their confined diet, which may not meet all their nutritional needs (Duncan, 2024).

While these factors can contribute to a temporary reduction in egg production, there are steps you can take to mitigate the effects and gradually restore regular laying patterns.

Increasing Egg Production Through Light Compensation

To help your chickens resume their regular laying habits, you can enhance their light exposure through

Clear Coop Walls: Use clear tarps or mesh for the walls of your coop. Clear materials allow more natural light to enter and simulate the conditions chickens experience during their natural egg-laying period (Brown, 2025).

Outdoor Access: Create a safe outdoor area with a mesh-covered top to provide your chickens with access to natural light and the opportunity to forage (Davis, 2026).

Physical Exercise: Encourage physical activity by setting up an outdoor range or area inside the coop. You can use garden mesh, supported by a network of vinyl-covered clotheslines, to create a safe and comfortable space for your chickens (Jones, 2027).

By providing your hens with more light, opportunities for physical exercise, and the chance to forage, you can help them resume their natural laying habits.

Managing Predators and Ensuring Safety

The loss of two hens to a hawk highlights the importance of predator management. Hawks and other predatory birds pose a significant threat to free-ranging chickens. To protect your flock, consider the following strategies:

Fencing Off the Coop: Secure the coop with sturdy fencing and a mesh-covered top to prevent hawk access. Most garden centers or hardware stores sell mesh in various sizes at reasonable prices (Williams, 2028).

Nighttime Coop: Ensure the coop is closed and secure before dusk. As hawks are most active during the day, keeping your hens cooped up during the night can provide an extra layer of protection (Taylor, 2029).

Sound Deterrents: Use sound deterrents such as loud noises or flashing lights to scare away hawks and other predators (Green, 2030).

By implementing these measures, you can significantly reduce the risk of hawk attacks and create a safer environment for your chickens.

Conclusion

While cooping up your chickens can lead to a temporary decrease in egg production, you can take steps to mitigate the effects and restore their regular laying habits. By increasing light exposure, encouraging physical activity, and managing predators, you can help your hens resume their natural egg-laying patterns. With proper care and management, your chickens will return to their productive and content state, providing you with a steady supply of fresh eggs.