Episode 167: Why Your Chickens Have Gone on Strike (and What You Can Do About It)

Episode 167: Why Your Chickens Have Gone on Strike (and What You Can Do About It)

From Ditch The Store by CJ Steedman

June 17, 2026 · 43 min · Season 4 · Episode 167

About this episode

CJ Steedman discusses the reasons behind reduced egg production in chickens during winter and offers practical advice for chicken keepers.

Have your hens suddenly stopped laying eggs? Before you panic and start questioning your chicken-keeping skills, take a breath. If it's winter, there's a good chance your girls haven't quit their jobs—they've simply gone on annual leave. In this episode of Ditch the Store, CJ explains why egg production drops (or stops completely) during winter, what a molt actually is, how daylight affects laying, and the practical steps you can take to help your flock through the season. You'll learn: 🐔 Why shorter days—not cold weather—are usually responsible for reduced egg production 🐔 What happens during a molt and why hens need this natural rest period 🐔 How to tell the difference between a molting hen and a sick hen 🐔 The best high-protein foods to support feather regrowth 🐔 Common mistakes that can make a molt last longer 🐔 Whether artificial lighting is worth using in a backyard flock 🐔 What to expect as spring approaches and egg production returns If you've opened the nesting box lately and found nothing but disappointment, this episode is for you. ✅ Join the Mojo Homestead mailing list: www.mojohomestead.net ✅ Upcoming book: Eggs Without Cartons – the complete guide to raising…

People in this episode

Host: CJ Steedman

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Mojo Homestead

Books & works: Ditch the Store: From Brooder to Plate, Eggs Without Cartons – the complete guide to raising chickens for fresh backyard eggs

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