2 hens stopped laying

[Shadow722]

I have 2 Blue Splash Maran hens and 1 rooster together in one pen and coop. I cleaned out their coop floor and put wood shavings in it this time instead of straw and my hens haven't laid since and it has been 2 weeks. I removed all the shavings and put straw back in yesterday. I seen them eating the shavings when I put it in there. Has anyone else had any problems with wood shavings. These hens laid everyday through the summer and fall then late in the winter they went to every other day until I changed the floor covering in the coop.

 

[my sunwolf]

I have problems when I use wood shavings in the nest boxes. If I do, my hens will refuse to lay in the boxes and will find their own spot. If I use hay or straw in the boxes, they love to lay in them. But in general, I love shavings for coop bedding as they keep the smell down and soak up moisture very well.

 

[Shadow722]

I kept straw in the nest boxes but the wood shavings are easier to clean out with a rake to get the dirty stuff out. But I am back to straw. I was wondering if the hens ate the wood shavings if it would stop them from laying.

 

[longswamp farm]

Some of my nest boxes have shaving, some straw. I use whichever I have at clean out time. My chickens don't seem to care.

 

[Shadow722]

I put straw in my other coops for my Rhode Island Reds and Golden Lace Wyandotte. They each group slowed down I think due to weather, but the Splash's were consistent layers and both birds stopped. I don't know their age I bought all my chickens last summer. The Golden Lace had just got their feathers so I know how old they are and the Reds I was told was less than a year old last July don't know about the Splash's.