Access to clean water:
They need clean, fresh water every day to support their bodily needs. I know, you see them drinking from muddy puddles and ditches but they really should have clean water.
That murky water you see them drinking may contain parasites and bacteria that can make them sick.
If hens become dehydrated they will not lay eggs and it will take them a few days to start laying again.
- Reducing Stress
Chickens can get stressed by small and inconsequential things such as a change of feed, loud noises, a squirrel in the run, and other trivial things that we would not even think about.
It is your job to try and keep the stress down to a minimum if you want your chickens to lay eggs.
- Calcium
A hen that lacks calcium will lay soft-shelled or shell-less eggs. Soft shell eggs look like regular eggs but when you pick them up, they are not hard they are quite malleable in the hand. A shell-less egg looks exactly like it sounds, there may be a thin membrane holding everything inside, but there is no solid shell.
- Enough Space
Chickens do not like to be crammed together. They like having enough space to flap their wings!
Inside the coop, each chicken should have 4 square feet of space, and outside in the run, they each need at least 8 square feet.
Just remember that crowding them can lead to health and behavioral issues.
They may start pecking and feather plucking, egg eating, and a host of other anti-social behaviors.
The weaker birds get trampled on too and can suffer from injuries.
By giving them enough space you are providing for their mental and emotional well-being. A happy and content chicken is going to be healthier and more productive than a hen that is unhappy and depressed.