Why Chickens Stop Laying: Winter Light, Molting and Other Causes
Egg production follows light. When days shorten, hens slow down or stop, and your cost per dozen goes up with them.
By the Egg Cost Check team · Published 2026-10-19 · Updated 2026-10-19
Light is the trigger
University of New Hampshire Extension: Producing Your Own Eggs says egg production is triggered by light. To keep hens laying through short winter days, it suggests at least 14 hours of total light a day from September 1 to May 1, using a 25-watt bulb, and notes that this interferes with the birds' natural molting cycle.
Penn State Extension: Successfully Raising a Small Flock of Laying Chickens says layers need 14 to 16 hours of light daily, advises adding the artificial light in the morning, and says adult birds should not get more than 16 hours. It suggests a 25 to 40 watt bulb.
What molting is and when it happens
Without added light, UNH says days become short enough by about October 31 that a flock stops laying and loses feathers. New feathers take about six weeks to grow. After a molt, the page advises bringing light back slowly to get the birds laying again. It also says birds should be allowed to molt after about 13 months of production.
Other things that cut production
The same page lists bad weather, dark days, severe cold, frozen water, predators and poor feed as causes of lower laying. Several of these are fixable.
What this does to your numbers
Feed and bedding cost the same in a slow month, but the eggs do not arrive. Your cost per dozen rises when laying drops.
- Enter a lower eggs per hen each week in the calculator to reflect a yearly average, not your best month.
- Add weeks to weeks without eggs if you expect a molt or a dark stretch in year one.
- If you add lights, put the electricity in other monthly costs.
Lights or a natural rest?
Both are real choices. The sources above say lights keep production up and also interfere with the natural molt. Which is better for your flock is a decision for you and, if you want advice on the birds' health, a poultry vet. This page is not veterinary advice.
Not sure how many hens that leaves you with? See how many chickens you need.
Sources
- University of New Hampshire Extension: Producing Your Own Eggs
- Penn State Extension: Successfully Raising a Small Flock of Laying Chickens
More guides
- How Much Coop and Run Space Does Each Chicken Need?
- How to Protect Your Chickens from Predators
- Backyard Flock Health: Bird Flu, Salmonella and Safe Eggs
- Are Backyard Chickens Cheaper Than Buying Eggs?
How we write: we link the sources we use, we label examples as examples and we do not claim hands-on results we have not had. See our method. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.