Spring round up on egg laying and what to be aware of

Spring is the time that most hens come back into lay if they’ve had a well-earned break over winter. For some, retirement is a permanent status and rightly so. However, if your hen continues popping out a daily egg in thanks for their adoption, here are a few questions you may have around their laying habits.

1. How often should a hen lay?

Most hybrid laying hens are at their most prolific in their first 18 months. Early in the process you will possibly see double-yolkers or slightly erratic shapes while everything settles into rhythm. As hens age, the number of eggs laid on consecutive days reduces, but the size may increase.

The season matters, too. Short winter days suppress the hormonal signals that trigger ovulation, and moulting redirects protein and energy into feather regrowth. Your hen, quite simply, is putting her own health first.

2. Why has laying slowed or stopped?

Before assuming the worst, consider the basics. Is a moult underway? Has there been a disruption – new birds, a fox scare, changes in season, housing or routine?

Hens can be sensitive souls and stress alone can temporarily interrupt laying. Often, production resumes when consistency returns. If the bird is otherwise eating, and behaving normally, be patient.

3. Does egg colour tell me anything?

Shell colour is largely genetic, determined by breed. A brown egg is not inherently “better” than a white one; it simply reflects different pigments laid down in the shell gland. What matters more is shell strength and consistency.

Yolk colour reflects diet pigments. Access to green forage or maize-based feeds can deepen the shade, but a darker yolk does not necessarily mean superior nutrition.

If you notice brown shells becoming paler at times, remember pigment is added late in the laying process. A hen that lays slightly early, or has been unsettled, may produce a lighter-coloured egg. Look for patterns, not single instances.

4. What causes soft, thin or rough shells?

Shell quality is often the first visible sign of dietary imbalance, because forming a shell requires a steady supply of usable calcium. A quality layers pellet or mash, such as Small Holder Feed, should form the backbone of her diet.

Many keepers offer soluble oyster shell or limestone grit separately so hens can help themselves, particularly during heavy lay. Flint grit helps digestion in the gizzard but does not provide calcium.

Soft-shelled or shell-less eggs can also follow stress or minor disruptions in timing; if it happens once and the hen appears well, note it and watch.

5. What is a “fairy egg”?

Very small eggs, sometimes containing little or no yolk, occasionally appear in young birds whose systems are still synchronising. These “fairy eggs” are usually a one-off quirk rather than a problem.

When in doubt, keep simple notes for a few days. One strange egg? That’s a curiosity. The same strange egg every day? That’s nature trying to tell you something.