Sudden unexplained stop in egg laying

[aart]

I personally don't believe in treating something that's not there. Better to know for sure that you need it (and more importantly, what specific worms you're dealing with, which is something else a fecal float can tell you) and then treat accordingly.

Ditto Dat!

even tried restricting her free range but still nothing.

How long did you restrict her ranging?

Has any one else had a Hen that just stopped for no reason?

There's usually a 'reason'... but it's often just that they are not stellar layers.
Marans can be that way.
If she's otherwise healthy....eating/drinking/pooping/moving around OK..I'd not worry about it.

 

[UrbanEgger19]

Ditto Dat!

How long did you restrict her ranging?

There's usually a 'reason'... but it's often just that they are not stellar layers.
Marans can be that way.
If she's otherwise healthy....eating/drinking/pooping/moving around OK..I'd not worry about it.

I just restricted free range for one week to see what would happen and still no eggs except from my Amerauacana.
She does seem happy and healthy and out-eats all the other girls, so I may just watch for now. I saw some natural type of working feed "Strike III" that is mostly just oregano and pumpkin seeds that I may try to see if it helps, but I do hate to give medication if not really needed.

 

[aart]

I saw some natural type of working feed "Strike III" that is mostly just oregano and pumpkin seeds that I may try to see if it helps, but I do hate to give medication if not really needed.

Snake oil...IMO.
If you suspect your birds have worms, get a fecal float done at a reputable lab that will tell you species and numbers of worms/eggs present....so you can use the right treatment if it is necessary.

 

[Duckfarmer1]

Ok, this is widely debated on here. I’ll give you my experience. I used to go with herbal dewormer. Molly’s herbs. Even recommended by a BYC member. But, after getting a fecal float done later, I found it didn’t do the job. I didnt want to use the meds either. I give all my animals pumpkin like crazy..just for measure..and they love it. But, unfortunately, now that I switched to medicine, the birds no longer have worms. And I don’t have to worry about my customers getting sick...or us.

 

[WVduckchick]

I have to agree with the others. Marans, especially it seems Black Coppers, are not the most reliable layers. But I understand the 5 week skip would make me wonder also. I only have 1 BCM left, she is in with my cream legbars, so her eggs are obvious! lol I get maybe 1 or 2 a week, whereas the CL's are nearly daily layers. The BCM went broody last fall, and seemed to take forever before I got another egg from her. She is just very up and down on laying.
I'd search for a hidden nest, if its possible.

Also wouldn't be a bad idea to weigh her, if you can. Then keep weighing her every few days to make sure she isn't losing weight (same time of day, or thereabouts for best results) She may not gain, but she shouldn't lose much, if any. They are wonderful at hiding sickness until its too late to treat.