[poppysmate]

My 4 girls (2x Black Rock, a Sussex Star and a Bluebelle) have been regularly providing 3 or 4 eggs a day since we had them 3 months ago (at POL).  For the first time (last Saturday) I started them on Flubenvet worming treatment, as per instructions, and we've not had a single egg since.  I stopped all treats as suggested and they have eaten 1.5 kg of the treated pellets in 4 days so the appetite seems to be there.  They appear to be behaving normally except they seem to be less enthusiastic when I go to see them, probably because I don't have any treats in my hand.  Their condition seems normal.

Should I be worried?  If yes, then what can I do to keep them safe?

[Casey76]

It's probably just coincidence!

If they've been laying with all of the weather that has been happening in the UK, then I think you've been pretty lucky up til now!

I'm so jealous of everyone who has hens which are laying.  Mine went on strike in September - all 9 of them, and I haven't had an egg since!

Give it a few days, and they should start laying again

[joyfull]

mine have really come back into lay this past 2 weeks after moulting 

[4chooks]

My hen's have been laying everyday since i bought them at P.O.L about 8 months ago and are still laying now even through the winter... very good bird's... I've just recently added 2 black rock's a week ago that are P.O.L and they are even laying now. (mild weather) .. in winter months with cold and dark nights hens can drop off as on average they need about a solid 12 hrs daylight... As said above probably just a coincidence they have missed since the flubenvet as no egg withdrawl... HTH?

[joyfull]

most birds in their first year and even second will lay through winter. Pure breeds ease off quicker but then they will continue laying over a greater number of year.
Blackrocks have been known to still lay the occasional egg at the age of 8, my blackrock is now 5 or 6 and in spring and summer lays about 3 or 4 a week 

[poppysmate]

Many thanks for your comments/advice.  Here is an update on the Flubenvet laying issue:
Started Flubenvet worming on Saturday the 7th, finished Saturday 14th January.
Eggs laid before 7th averaged 3 per day.
Eggs laid between 8th and 14th = zero
Eggs laid since Saturday 14th = 1 on Sunday, 2 on Monday, 2 on Tuesday and 2 today before I left for work at 8 am.
Thats one heck of a coincidence!!  Unless it was because they took the hump because of lack of treats, I suggest it had something to do with the Flubenvet.

[joyfull]

mine have never stopped laying when being given flubenvet, and I have had chickens for quite a while 

[ANHBUC]

Hi poppysmate, you don't say where you are.  If you are in the u.k. was that the week when we had the gale force winds?  The weather can have a big difference in their egg laying.  The other reason could be they have been scared by a predator, they don't need to have been attacked just the sight of one could do the job.

[poppysmate]

Don't get me wrong, I intend to use the Flubenvet again next time.  I'm just trying to learn from the experience and in the middle of last week my experience seemed at odds with others, hence my concern that something else was going wrong.  All now seems well and others might learn from my experience with worming.

By the way, the bad weather in South Wales was at least a week before, although my girls are in a very sheltered spot and didn't seem phased by it, even if I was worried for them.

[ANHBUC]

Sound like they have had a fright then.  That would explain them being wary of you.

If you are really concerned about it being the flubenvet and it is a new batch you have used I would get in touch with the manufacturer.  They will want to test it in case there is a problem.