Sudden stop in laying

[Hazza12]

Hello all,

I’m a new chicken owner, 3 lovely girls from point of lay. We brought them home on 15th April and to our surprise they started laying immediately! For around 2 weeks we were getting 2/3 eggs each day, with the girls free roaming for large parts of the day after initial coop/run Lock in to learn home!

one rainy day, one of our girls (Scramble) had a run in with a local cat, Lost some back feathers and luckily no further injuries and after recuperating in our kitchen for the shock for a day rejoined the others. she was off lay, due to the stress I would think, however the other two continued to lay for the next 5days or so, this then gradually slowed and has now ceased, for over a week none of them have laid. I hasten to add all 3 have eaten and drunk as per normal, they are fed layers pellets with oyster shell and grit mixed in, and are acting like happy girls, talking to us, scratching and nibbling everything.

Due to the attack, we reduced their free roaming to only supervised until Our fence reinforcements etc arrive (covid19 currently hindering this its on back order 4weeks and counting). They have a substantial wood chipped floored run approx 25square feet with dust bath, things to climb on etc to help stop any boredom hopefully.

On two occasions towards them ceasing laying, I spotted white worm like things in two poops, in their coop on my morning clean of it, (Sorry no pics didn’t think!) I’m a healthcare worker don’t judge me I always Poop scoop their coop daily and check poop and wee Of all creatures and advocate everyone to do the same !! Although haven’t seen the same white wormy things since.... I purchased pellets with wormer in as I’ve not wormed them and I assume they haven’t been from the amount of Could be worms in the poop, they should arrive this week(again covid delaying deliveries)

we’re not overly fussed about the not laying, Obviously eggs are a bonus however we love their company and it’s more ensuring they are as happy and healthy As they can be!!

we check the coop (on a concrete base) and run each morning for any signs of predator and so far no attempt at access to it, therefore they are as safe as they can be during the day in their run. We also have a noisy dog which helps keep Most predators at bay, the chickens aren’t fussed by the noise, we got them from a farm with two very noisy guard dogs!! Both dog and chickens have a mutual respect for each other, chicken pecked dog initially now he runs away!!

therefore my questions to everyone are:
1. is it likely to be worms? Am I doing the right thing by worming them? I know lots of people never do from reading comments
2. Is there anything else I can try in the mean time to ensure they’re healthy?
3. could it be they’re stropping about not being free roaming all the time?!
4. am I missing a trick

thanks for taking the time to read I’m sorry it’s so long was trying to cover everything and any advice is much appreciated x

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

What breeds? Many do not continue to lay daily. Some slow down, some stop and take breaks throughout the season.

 

[Hazza12]

What breeds? Many do not continue to lay daily. Some slow down, some stop and take breaks throughout the season.

I’m not entirely sure to be honest with you!! I think they’re just hybrids (pic attached!) but that would make sense if they do just take a break thank you!!

 

[Hazza12]

Hello all,

I’m a new chicken owner, 3 lovely girls from point of lay. We brought them home on 15th April and to our surprise they started laying immediately! For around 2 weeks we were getting 2/3 eggs each day, with the girls free roaming for large parts of the day after initial coop/run Lock in to learn home!

one rainy day, one of our girls (Scramble) had a run in with a local cat, Lost some back feathers and luckily no further injuries and after recuperating in our kitchen for the shock for a day rejoined the others. she was off lay, due to the stress I would think, however the other two continued to lay for the next 5days or so, this then gradually slowed and has now ceased, for over a week none of them have laid. I hasten to add all 3 have eaten and drunk as per normal, they are fed layers pellets with oyster shell and grit mixed in, and are acting like happy girls, talking to us, scratching and nibbling everything.

Due to the attack, we reduced their free roaming to only supervised until Our fence reinforcements etc arrive (covid19 currently hindering this its on back order 4weeks and counting). They have a substantial wood chipped floored run approx 25square feet with dust bath, things to climb on etc to help stop any boredom hopefully.

On two occasions towards them ceasing laying, I spotted white worm like things in two poops, in their coop on my morning clean of it, (Sorry no pics didn’t think!) I’m a healthcare worker don’t judge me I always Poop scoop their coop daily and check poop and wee Of all creatures and advocate everyone to do the same !! Although haven’t seen the same white wormy things since.... I purchased pellets with wormer in as I’ve not wormed them and I assume they haven’t been from the amount of Could be worms in the poop, they should arrive this week(again covid delaying deliveries)

we’re not overly fussed about the not laying, Obviously eggs are a bonus however we love their company and it’s more ensuring they are as happy and healthy As they can be!!

we check the coop (on a concrete base) and run each morning for any signs of predator and so far no attempt at access to it, therefore they are as safe as they can be during the day in their run. We also have a noisy dog which helps keep Most predators at bay, the chickens aren’t fussed by the noise, we got them from a farm with two very noisy guard dogs!! Both dog and chickens have a mutual respect for each other, chicken pecked dog initially now he runs away!!

therefore my questions to everyone are:
1. is it likely to be worms? Am I doing the right thing by worming them? I know lots of people never do from reading comments
2. Is there anything else I can try in the mean time to ensure they’re healthy?
3. could it be they’re stropping about not being free roaming all the time?!
4. am I missing a trick

thanks for taking the time to read I’m sorry it’s so long was trying to cover everything and any advice is much appreciated x

Bump

 

[aart]

There are only two types of worm you can actually see in droppings, round worms and tapeworms. Having a fecal float done is the only way to know what species and how many are there and what the best wormer to use would be.
Choosing a wormer can be tricky due to availability and withdrawal issues.

I would not think hybrids would 'take a break',
especially if they just started laying(they are about 6 months old?),
they are bred to be laying machines.
Could be the change in feed just catching up.
Do not mix grit or oyster shell into feed, offer them in separate containers.
The confinement, and the attack, could cause enough stress to stop laying.
How big is their coop and run, in meters by meters?
Dimensions and pics might help here.

 

[Jedstar]

I reckon they could be moulting and should probably worm them. When they moult then tend to go of the lay.or change in season and weather

Hello all,

I’m a new chicken owner, 3 lovely girls from point of lay. We brought them home on 15th April and to our surprise they started laying immediately! For around 2 weeks we were getting 2/3 eggs each day, with the girls free roaming for large parts of the day after initial coop/run Lock in to learn home!

one rainy day, one of our girls (Scramble) had a run in with a local cat, Lost some back feathers and luckily no further injuries and after recuperating in our kitchen for the shock for a day rejoined the others. she was off lay, due to the stress I would think, however the other two continued to lay for the next 5days or so, this then gradually slowed and has now ceased, for over a week none of them have laid. I hasten to add all 3 have eaten and drunk as per normal, they are fed layers pellets with oyster shell and grit mixed in, and are acting like happy girls, talking to us, scratching and nibbling everything.

Due to the attack, we reduced their free roaming to only supervised until Our fence reinforcements etc arrive (covid19 currently hindering this its on back order 4weeks and counting). They have a substantial wood chipped floored run approx 25square feet with dust bath, things to climb on etc to help stop any boredom hopefully.

On two occasions towards them ceasing laying, I spotted white worm like things in two poops, in their coop on my morning clean of it, (Sorry no pics didn’t think!) I’m a healthcare worker don’t judge me I always Poop scoop their coop daily and check poop and wee Of all creatures and advocate everyone to do the same !! Although haven’t seen the same white wormy things since.... I purchased pellets with wormer in as I’ve not wormed them and I assume they haven’t been from the amount of Could be worms in the poop, they should arrive this week(again covid delaying deliveries)

we’re not overly fussed about the not laying, Obviously eggs are a bonus however we love their company and it’s more ensuring they are as happy and healthy As they can be!!

we check the coop (on a concrete base) and run each morning for any signs of predator and so far no attempt at access to it, therefore they are as safe as they can be during the day in their run. We also have a noisy dog which helps keep Most predators at bay, the chickens aren’t fussed by the noise, we got them from a farm with two very noisy guard dogs!! Both dog and chickens have a mutual respect for each other, chicken pecked dog initially now he runs away!!

therefore my questions to everyone are:
1. is it likely to be worms? Am I doing the right thing by worming them? I know lots of people never do from reading comments
2. Is there anything else I can try in the mean time to ensure they’re healthy?
3. could it be they’re stropping about not being free roaming all the time?!
4. am I missing a trick

thanks for taking the time to read I’m sorry it’s so long was trying to cover everything and any advice is much appreciated x

 

[Hazza12]

There are only two types of worm you can actually see in droppings, round worms and tapeworms. Having a fecal float done is the only way to know what species and how many are there and what the best wormer to use would be.
Choosing a wormer can be tricky due to availability and withdrawal issues.

I would not think hybrids would 'take a break',
especially if they just started laying(they are about 6 months old?),
they are bred to be laying machines.
Could be the change in feed just catching up.
Do not mix grit or oyster shell into feed, offer them in separate containers.
The confinement, and the attack, could cause enough stress to stop laying.
How big is their coop and run, in meters by meters?
Dimensions and pics might help here.

Thanks for your response, yes we got at point of lay and we’re laying until suddenly stopping. When we initially got them we kept them in their run for a week to learn home and we’re getting eggs routinely. We are using same feed as they were having, purchased alongside them. I’ll put some grit and shell down separately thanks for that tip!

the coop is an Eglu go, the run is 2.5metres by 1.5metres long rectangle pics attached, before chickens arrival and then woodchipped (it’s fully wood chipped floor)sorry doesn’t show the feeders and water that’s where I’ve taken the pic from I promise they have it and in plenty!! It also has a full cover to keep them dry, they’ve also got some perch points in the run Since these pics.

so they were free roaming for about a week before the attack, then weve only let them out for afternoons or when we’re out for prolonged periods at weekends etc. Two of them continued to lay for a good 3/4days before ceasing.

Is there anything to make them feel more at ‘home’ in their run if it’s the stress of being confined to it? I am planning a bit of a tunnel to another similar sized run for a bit of a tractor through summer when at work although struggling getting materials at the moment!
Thanks so much!!

 

[Hazza12]

I reckon they could be moulting and should probably worm them. When they moult then tend to go of the lay.or change in season and weather

I don’t think they’ve ever been wormed,

round worms and tapeworms.

forgot to say, on checking out chicken poop pics with worms in them it was definitely Round worms in the poop, looked like white spaghetti!

 

[Hazza12]

I reckon they could be moulting and should probably worm them. When they moult then tend to go of the lay.or change in season and weather

That’s Jedstar, I don’t think they’ve ever been wormed, I’m based in UK and we’re having weird weather it’s gone from 20/25C down to 10 and lower.

 

[Jedstar]

Far out wiered weather yeah. Yeah probably a few reasons why they aren't laying. Moulting .weather and worms