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Causes of Non-Laying Chickens Explained + Link Personal and Homestead Growth
Question of the day: How do you handle food preservation on your homestead?
Cedie Omaña
November 19, 2024
QUOTE OF THE DAY
"The joy of farming is found in watching something grow that you nurtured with your own hands."
— Anonymous
HOMESTEAD TIP OF THE DAY
Install windbreaks or fencing around delicate plants or fruit trees to protect them from harsh winds and snow drifts during winter storms.
How do you handle food preservation on your homestead? |
IN TODAY'S EDITION
Homestead Tip 🌱
Poll Results From Last Sunday 📊
All Things Homestead: Why Aren't Your Chickens Laying Eggs? Here's the Scoop! 🥚
Personal Development: Homestead Goals & Personal Growth - How They Work Together 🤝
Today's Top Picks 🛍️
Let’s Keep It Reel 🤣
In the past, we relied on paper lists and brick-and-mortar stores, but Amazon Prime has revolutionized the way we shop. While free shipping and exclusive shows are great, don't miss these 10 hidden perks that can enhance your membership.
POLL RESULTS FROM LAST SUNDAY
Which medicinal herb do you use most often on your homestead?
🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Lavender for its calming and soothing properties
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Chamomile for relaxation and better sleep
🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️⬜️ Echinacea for boosting immunity
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Peppermint for digestion and headaches
🟨🟨🟨⬜️⬜️⬜️ Others (Feel free to specify your answer after you've voted.)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 I’d love to grow my own herbs but haven’t started yet!
via @beehiiv polls
Feel free to participate in fun polls in our next newsletters! 😉
ALL THINGS HOMESTEAD
Why Aren't Your Chickens Laying Eggs? Here's the Scoop! 🥚
Wondering why your chicken coop has gone quiet? Here's a rundown of the top reasons your hens might have stopped laying eggs and what you can do to help them get back on track!
1. Age: Just like us, chickens slow down as they get older. After about two years, their egg production naturally decreases.
What to Do: Keep older chickens comfortable with a nutrient-rich diet and regular health checks.
2. Poor Nutrition: Chickens need plenty of calcium and protein to lay healthy eggs. If they’re missing these key nutrients, their production might drop off.
What to Do: Feed them a balanced layer feed, supplement with calcium like oyster shells, and treat them to protein-rich snacks.
3. Not Enough Light: Chickens need about 14-16 hours of light per day to lay regularly.
What to Do: Consider adding some artificial lighting to their coop to extend their productive hours, especially during the shorter days of winter.
4. Stress: Everything from predators to changes in their coop can stress out chickens and disrupt their laying.
What to Do: Make their environment as calm and safe as possible. Keep predators away and try to minimize disruptions in their daily life.
5. Parasites: Mites, lice, and other creepy crawlies can lead to discomfort and stress, which can impact egg production.
What to Do: Keep their coop clean and consider natural deterrents like diatomaceous earth to keep bugs at bay.
6. Annual Molt: Once a year, chickens lose their old feathers and grow new ones, which takes a lot of their energy away from egg-laying.
What to Do: Boost their diet with extra protein during this time and give them some space to relax.
7. Salpingitis: This inflammation of the oviduct can be serious and lead to a stop in egg production.
What to Do: This requires a vet's attention. Keeping their living area clean can help prevent infections.
8. Predator Stress: Even the threat of a predator can cause stress enough for chickens to stop laying.
What to Do: Secure their coop as best as you can, use predator guards, and keep the coop area well-lit at night to deter unwelcome visitors.
9. Extreme Weather: Too hot or too cold can affect your chickens' ability to lay.
What to Do: Provide plenty of shade and water during the summer and make sure their coop is insulated and draft-free during the winter.
10. Overbreeding: Too many roosters can lead to stressed and physically exhausted hens.
What to Do: Keep an optimal rooster-to-hen ratio; generally, one rooster per ten hens is sufficient.
How to Keep Them Laying:
Ensure they have a balanced diet rich in calcium and protein.
Maintain a steady light schedule with natural or supplemented lighting.
Keep their environment calm, secure, and predator-free.
Regularly check for pests and manage them promptly.
By understanding these common issues and how to address them, you can help keep your hens happy and productive.
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Homestead Goals & Personal Growth: How They Work Together 🤝
Today, I’m excited to chat about how your homesteading can boost your personal growth. I’ll share some of my journey, showing why this topic is so important and how you can use homesteading to achieve your personal goals.
The Connection Between Homesteading and Personal Growth:
Homesteading isn’t just about living off the land—it’s a personal growth journey too. Whether you’re dealing with a failed vegetable patch or taking care of animals, these tasks teach you to be persistent and responsible. These skills can also make you a better homesteader!
Understanding Your Core Values:
Let's start with a quick exercise. Ask yourself:
Why did I start homesteading?
What personal values guide me each day?
How do I want to grow through homesteading?
Identifying your core values helps set meaningful goals. For instance, if family is important to you, your homesteading goals might include projects that get the whole family involved.
Setting Aligned Goals:
Let’s align your homesteading with your personal growth using the SMART goal-setting framework. Say you want to be more patient—try growing tomatoes from seed. This project needs daily attention over months, mirroring the patience you want to develop.
Daily Practices for Growth:
Incorporate little daily habits that boost both your homestead and your personal development. For example, practice being mindful when you’re feeding the chickens. This can help you manage your emotions better. Keep track of what you do in the garden to help boost your planning skills. And why not start a routine where you jot down your thoughts after you finish your morning chores? It’s a great way to focus on your growth.
Adapting to Changes:
Life throws curveballs, and so does homesteading. Be ready to adjust your goals as things change. Maybe you need to cut back on some projects to keep stress levels down.
Why This Matters:
Linking your homesteading with your personal goals is more than just getting things done. It’s about creating a fulfilling lifestyle. Every task on your homestead can help you grow into the person you want to be, which makes every day meaningful.
THE STEADY HOME’S GIGGLE CHAMBER
How do pumpkins listen to music?
On vine-yl records!
TODAY'S TOP PICKS
LET’S KEEP IT REEL!
I've put together some fantastic farm videos that are sure to make you laugh. Take a look and enjoy the fun!
When you need to hype yourself up while shopping for plants to make it feel justified:
@leaf_em It always starts with “just browsing” and ends with grabbing a cart!🛒🪴🤭 🌱Follow @leaf_em for more plant parent content and check out the L... See more
When a fern nails the perfect wave:
@junes.honey i love seeing the beauty of nature like this :’) anyone else? #dancingfern #hike #nature #redwoods #germanshepherd #husky
If you haven't seen a pony having adorable zoomies, you need to check this out! It comes with some hilarious commentary too:
@ozzymanreviews Here's me commentary on @ozzytheminimini working on farm defence 🎙🔊 #ozzymanreviews #funny #horse #wildlife
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