lovebugette Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 I have three lovely girls who are just over 2 years old and, without warning, they ALL stopped laying a couple of weeks ago! I'd always had at least two eggs every day for that whole period, regardless of weather so it was a bit of a shocker. After considering all sorts of things that may have pinched my lovely (seagulls, thieving neighbours, Easter Bunny) I then considered it might be the chickens after all. Ifound the odd softie, (partially eaten) so added limestone flour to their afternoon porridge and then one started laying again, but still two aren't so would appreciate any advice. The two who are still not laying are the same breed and age - could this be the natural end of their egg laying days? They are my first chickens so not sure - being hybrids I wonder if that's that - if so it's a long retirement and a new Cube and three additional hens as friends! My girls do free range, although only in a segregated part of the garden which isn't massive. I'd not changed anything at all food wise so at a bit of a loss. Thank you all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Have you checked behind bushes for a stash? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovebugette Posted April 23, 2010 Author Share Posted April 23, 2010 Yes, to no avail unfortunately. Did find two of hubbies golf balls though ! My girls have access to a small "hay" shed and they snuggle in the hay and either lay there normally, or in the Eglu. Live near the sea so not too many bushes or trees to hunt under either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 23, 2010 Share Posted April 23, 2010 Worming with Flubenvet would be a good start if they haven't been wormed recently. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovebugette Posted April 25, 2010 Author Share Posted April 25, 2010 I had some Verm-X wormer which I did use last week, I liked the look of it as non-GM and herbal. Maybe I should try that too - nothing to lose! Thank you for your advice and I will hope they will resume in due course! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted April 25, 2010 Share Posted April 25, 2010 If you haven't used Flubenvet on them yet which is the only licensed wormer for chickens I would recommend giving them a course. You mix it with a quantity of food which is given over 7 days, eggs can still be eaten during this time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejaym39 Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 My ladies have also gone on egg strike - same breed as yours too. I have checked the houses, gardens and everywhere else hoping to find a stash of eggs. No luck. They havn't laid for the past week. Will try worming and see if that improves. Maybe it's a national chicken strike. Em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovebugette Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 Feel reassured that your girls are not complying either Em! I have had a couple of softies this week again but am now in possession of a cute little pot of Flubenvet which I intend to give in grapes! Let's hope for some improvement. I have ordered my new and intend to buy three more girls in due course (maybe some Heritage Skyline's who lay some lovely eggs - how exciting) - maybe that will rev up my girls to start again. After some thought I was persuaded by my sensible husband to buy the green cube and not the pink. Guess it will fit in with the garden a bit better, but having small pang of regret! Then again, my pink cube did fade ..... Good luck Em with your girls, let me know if they rev back up again. Joanne Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Orchard Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 My Pepperpot hasn't laid for 2 weeks now. She's eating fine and seems as happy as ever, wouldn't know there was anything wrong with her except for the lack of eggs. My other Chook is fine, they are both about a year old, so just wonder if he Pepperpot is about to molt? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejaym39 Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Good news - wh have had today so our ladies may be back on track. Have been giving them Flubenvent for the past 3 days, so wondering if this has helped out. We too have a lady which lays blue eggs and she has delivered one for us today. Just wanted to ask how you give Flubenvent in grapes as my ladies love grapes and will scale the length of the garden to get one. This would be a much easier way to give the wormer. How is it done and at what dose. Em Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lovebugette Posted May 1, 2010 Author Share Posted May 1, 2010 The pot was very vague for the likes of me and my three chooks - it refers to adding scoops per kilo of feed! A bit extreme. Thought I'd scour the internet for recommended individual dosage so I can be sure they're all correctly dosed and saw the grape method My girls too sprint faster than Linford Christie (in his prime) for a juicy grape, so followed the advice of a small knife-tipped-sprinkle of powder poured into a partly torn grape and, lo and behold, one dose duly swallowed whole. I'll hope for some in due course. Had to buy some today and they aren't as pretty or tasty, plus the shame of it . Keep up the good work Em's hens and I'll keep fingers crossed that mine, like yours, will pick up after a few days dose. Have a nice weekend everyone! Joanne xx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
