how quickly could exposure to worms affect egg laying

[nittanyxi]

Does anyone know how much time it would take for a hen to stop laying eggs after they were exposed to worms/worm eggs?

 

[Chicken_Pauper]

Unknown... Chickens get worms, when they are well infected with worms they will get sick, sicker, and sicker, stop laying, sneeze, limp, get lethargic... and die.

Any and all chickens get worms. If they free range they get worms more often, more easily. If they are six months old and have not been wormed they probably need to be. If they are showing symptoms, if you see tape worm segments in the poop, or any worms in the poop they need to be wormed immediately. If you don't see worms, they still probably have them and need to be wormed.

Chickens can slow down or stop laying for periods of time for many reasons, shorter and colder days.. illness... "just because".. eggbound.

Search on BYC here for "stopped laying"... "worming"... "eggbound"... "worming with Valbazen" (safe and effective first wormer, kills all worms, not mites).

You can check your chickens for mites... look under the wings and around the vent... Sevin Dust for mites, on the chicken damp, dark areas... "armpits", vent, etc. Clean coop, nesting boxes, roosts, etc.. sprinkle a little Sevin Dust around, in the nesting boxes, on the roosts, dirt, etc...

There are many reasons chickens stop laying -- often they will start up again without you ever knowing why they stopped. But, sometimes they won't, or will get sicker and die before you know. Keep an eye on them for other symptoms.

(When you say "exposed" to worms/worm eggs what do you mean? Chickens are exposed to worms and worm eggs every day if they free range or are outdoors... they get worms from worms, bugs, etc... and all chickens should be wormed now and then, as part of regular care, especially if they are free range.)

Good luck.