Don't worry, today we will talk about why this group of feathered little princesses is on strike, and I'll give you a few tips to turn your chicken coop back into an "egg factory assembly line." As an agricultural and food producer, I know that raising chickens is not a leisurely activity, nor is it about dating hens; it's about understanding their "little thoughts" and "hard needs." Environment, temperature, nutrition—if any one of these three mountains is not well managed, your dream of eggs will be dashed. Let's get started, and I'll show you the world from a chicken's perspective, have a laugh, and then fill your basket with eggs!

First, let's talk about the environment. You might think hens are tough workers, giving you 996 (working 9 to 9, six days a week) all year round? Wrong! They are even pickier than you when it comes to "living conditions." If the chicken coop is messy, as stuffy as a sauna, or the lighting is as eerie as a horror movie set, it's a wonder if the hens will lay eggs for you. It's not that they don't want to lay; they simply lack the mood. Try squatting in a smoky place every day, with no Wi-Fi signal, and see if you have the motivation to work! Hens are the same. The coop needs to be dry and well-ventilated, and it’s best to have some natural light—just not too much, or it will feel like a beauty pageant under spotlights, and they will get shy. A friend of mine who raises chickens once complained to me that his coop was next to a road, with cars coming and going and horns honking all the time. As a result, the hens became collectively "depressed," and he didn't see any eggs, but there were feathers everywhere. Later, he added soundproofing to the coop and moved it to a quieter place, and within two months, the eggs started piling up again. Adjustment plan? Simple, check if the coop is a "livable community," and don't let the hens feel like they are living in a "slum." If all else fails, install a small fan and play some light music, and the hens will say "thank you, boss."

Next, let's talk about temperature. This is more important to hens than you snuggling under the covers in winter. If it's too cold, they huddle together, shivering; how can they think about laying eggs? If it's too hot, they pant as if they've run a marathon, their minds filled with "help, I need air conditioning." Scientific research—well, actually, it's a conclusion I've drawn from observing chicken butts for over a decade—shows that hens are most comfortable at temperatures between 18 to 24 degrees Celsius. Below 15 degrees, they enter "hibernation mode," and above 30 degrees, they become "roast chicken reserves." I have a buddy who forgot to cool the coop in summer, and as a result, the hens were rolling on the ground from the heat, laying hardly any eggs, but they were sweating profusely. Later, he got smart and installed a misting cooling system and covered the coop with a shade net, and the hens immediately perked up, and the eggs followed. What about winter? Don't let the coop be like an ice cellar; add some insulation or install a heat lamp, but don't place it too close, or you'll roast the chickens into "barbecue." Temperature, in simple terms, is about letting the hens live in a "temperature-controlled mansion," not too cold like the Arctic, and not too hot like the equator, and the eggs will naturally come.

Finally, let's talk about nutrition. Hens are not "universal machines" that can lay eggs on anything; they are quite picky. If you only feed them leftovers or are stingy enough to give just a few corn kernels, it's a wonder if they will lay eggs for you. Hens need protein, calcium, and vitamins to lay eggs; missing any one of these is not acceptable. Protein is the "building material," calcium is the "reinforcement," and vitamins are the "decorative paint." Without any of these, the eggshells will either be as thin as paper or simply won't come out. I have a neighbor who feeds his chickens white rice every day, thinking "as long as the chickens are full," but the hens got as fat as balls and laid not a single egg. Later, I advised him to add some soybean meal, fish meal, and throw in some crushed oyster shells for calcium, and within a month, the coop was overflowing with eggs. The hens' nutrition must be balanced; don't always think about saving money. Chickens are not trash cans; if you don't feed them well, they will give you the cold shoulder. Adjustment plan? Set up a "chicken feed buffet," ensuring grains, protein, calcium, and trace elements are all included, and occasionally add some leafy greens. Happy hens will lay eggs joyfully.

At this point, you might think, why are hens so hard to please? Actually, they don't want to go against you. If the environment, temperature, and nutrition are not sorted out, they will be like workers on strike, preferring to sit there in a daze rather than work. You need to treat them as "partners," not "egg machines." I know an old farmer who raises chickens like pets, chatting with the hens every morning and evening, keeping the coop cleaner than his own home. As a result, his egg production is astonishingly high, and even neighboring villages come to learn from him. He said, "Chickens have feelings too; if you treat them well, they will repay you." This sounds mystical, but there is some truth to it. The matter of hens laying eggs is one aspect of technique, but the mindset must also keep up.

Of course, if hens are on strike, it's not entirely your fault. Sometimes they are older, or the season is wrong, and they will slack off. Spring and summer are peak laying seasons, while in autumn and winter, when the temperature drops, they are prone to "slacking off." Plus, during molting, hens are busy changing their feathers, so how can they find time to lay eggs? During such times, don't rush to scold them as "lazy bugs"; be patient, and once they adjust, they will naturally get back to work. I have a friend who gets anxious every winter, thinking that if the hens aren't laying, it's his fault. Later, I told him that fewer eggs in winter is a normal phenomenon, and he shouldn't take it out on the chickens. He then relaxed and waited for the "harvest" in spring.

Regarding the environment, there's another detail that is easily overlooked—chicken density. If you cram hens in like sardines, how can they not get upset? Each hen needs at least 0.3 square meters of space to move around; otherwise, they will peck at each other and fight. Forget about laying eggs; it would be good if they don't lose any members. I've seen a novice chicken farmer who, feeling the space was insufficient, stuffed 50 chickens into a 10-square-meter small room. As a result, there were hardly any eggs, and feathers were flying everywhere. Later, he expanded the coop, and the chickens were comfortable, and the egg production increased. Just think about it; if you were crammed into a dormitory with dozens of people, struggling to turn around, could you work peacefully? Hens are the same.

On the topic of temperature, let me elaborate a bit more. Don't think that as long as the room is not too cold or too hot, everything is fine; humidity also needs attention. If it's too dry, hens will have sore throats, and even drinking water won't help; if it's too humid, they are prone to illness, and the eggs will suffer too. Humidity should ideally be controlled between 50% to 70%; don't let the coop turn into a "tropical rainforest" or a "Sahara desert." I have a relative whose coop is by the river, and in summer, it was so humid that you could wring out water. As a result, the hens caught a cold, and egg production plummeted. Later, he added a dehumidifier, and the situation improved. So, temperature and humidity are a "dance duo" that must be performed well together for hens to "present eggs" to you.

Regarding nutrition, there's a little trick—don't feed them overly salty things. Hens are not like humans; if they eat something salty, they can't just drink tea to relieve it. If their salt intake exceeds the limit, their kidneys can't handle it, and their egg-laying efficiency will drop. I have a fellow villager who likes to feed his chickens leftover pickled vegetables, thinking "they taste good, and the chickens love them," but the hens ate happily and stopped laying eggs. Later, I advised him to switch to a lighter feed, and the eggs gradually returned. So, the taste of chickens is different from yours; don't use your "culinary standards" to feed them.

At this point, you might be wondering, what if the environment, temperature, and nutrition are all sorted out, but the hens still don't lay eggs? Don't panic; there's a "trump card"—observe their "mental state." If the hens look listless and wobble when they walk, they might be sick. Quickly check their behinds for any redness or dirt, and feel their crop to see if it's hard. If there are issues, consult a veterinarian; don't try to treat them yourself. I have a friend who fancied himself as the "Hua Tuo of the chicken world." When the hens were unwell, he fed them some human cold medicine, and as a result, the chickens didn't get better, and he ended up with a pile of medical bills. Leave professional matters to professionals; when the hens are healthy, the eggs will naturally come.

In fact, raising chickens is quite similar to being a person. You need to be attentive, thoughtful, and have a sense of humor. When hens don't lay eggs, don't rush to blame yourself, nor should you blame them for being uncooperative. Once you understand the environment, temperature, and nutrition, along with a bit of patience and care, your chicken coop will eventually turn into an "egg mountain." I have an old client who has been raising chickens for ten years, going from an initial "egg shortage" to now being "overloaded with eggs," all thanks to exploration and adjustment. He said, "Chickens are smarter than people; you have to outsmart them." This sounds funny, but there is indeed some truth to it.

Finally, let me leave you with a saying: if hens aren't laying eggs, it may not be that you are raising them poorly; perhaps they want to play a "psychological game" with you. Observe more, adjust more, and one day, you will find that your basket is full of eggs, and you will be happier than ever. Raising chickens is all about fun and harvest, right? Get the environment right, control the temperature, and keep up with nutrition, and your hens will eventually become "egg champions"!