Clintfinn Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 My chickens laid nearly every day for 6 months now nothing for 3 weeks apart from some shell free eggs. Looked at some similar posts and I've tried calcium supplements, Davinova C etc but no joy. The eggs stopped the same day I added new bark to their run. (Standard stuff from the garden centre). They'd previously had a spell of just having a run without bark which they seemed to like more for digging and dust bowls. It resembled Glastonbury after some rain so needed to go back to bark. Am wondering if the bark could be the problem. Anyone with any thoughts? They seem their normal happy selves otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 It could be stress from the change. Have you looked around the garden for any secret nests? Could anything be taking the eggs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 I'm by no means an expert as I don't get my first chickens until end June but I went on a chicken keeper course last weekend and the breeder was very clear on one thing - don't use bark. There's a fungus that can grow in the bark and cause the chickens severe problems. I'm sure it wouldn't be that but given it coincided with the bark it may be worth ruling out and replacing with wood shavings or another floor cover. Shell free eggs could be Egg Drop Syndrome? If it was this I'm told there's no treatment and it clears in about 10 weeks - the affects birds should be separated to prevent the virus from spreading. Is it all your chickens or just 1 or 2? Are you sure there's no eggs elsewhere around their house or in the garden? Are there any other symptoms? No runny noses, eyes, comb still red, eating as normal? I'm scouring my book to get any other ideas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted May 19, 2009 Share Posted May 19, 2009 We have kept our girls on bark ever since we got them 2 years ago, we have had no problems. They do sometimes take a break, I can remember mine doing something similar after a first few months of laying. have they lost any feathers? Have you wormed them recently? because worms can stop laying. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woodcat Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 hey We had almost exactly the same problem and discovered they'd been laying under a bush. It had my mother really panicing cause i was away at the time. If you know what time they normal laid try having a watch they might have made a nest somwhere unexpected We also had the added confusion because we had one laying a series of softies at the time. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katieadams Posted May 20, 2009 Share Posted May 20, 2009 I went on a chicken keeper course last weekend and the breeder was very clear on one thing - don't use bark. There's a fungus that can grow in the bark and cause the chickens severe problems. I'm sure it wouldn't be that but given it coincided with the bark it may be worth ruling out and replacing with wood shavings or another floor cover. I heard that so got onto Omlet as I'd used bark, following Omlet permanant site instructions and they said this: Originally, we recommend bark chippings but then it was discovered that there is a miniscule risk (and I mean tiny, tiny risk) that extremely wet bark chippings could produce mould spores. If you cover the run it will be fine. Some use a shower curtain (99p from Ikea) attached with bungee cords, to keep the run dry. I'm going to change mine for rubber chippings but not until we need to change it anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
