No eggs for weeks after tapeworm treatment?

[BlueberryOatmeal]

Hi friends,

My two hens, each a little over one year old, recently had to get treated for tapeworms with Zimecterin Gold after I found segments in one of their droppings. They just had their second treatment a couple of days ago, so it’s been about 2.5 weeks since they had their first dose.

I’ve only seen a couple of eggs from them in that entire span of time, when I used to get 1 or 2 eggs a day.

They eat layer feed and oyster shell. I also haven’t seen any more worms come out. Otherwise, their behavior and energy level is 100% normal. Could it just be the medicine stopping their egg production? If so, how long do I let it happen before I start to worry? I’m a little worried now, to be honest.

All advice welcome!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Hi friends,

My two hens, each a little over one year old, recently had to get treated for tapeworms with Zimecterin Gold after I found segments in one of their droppings. They just had their second treatment a couple of days ago, so it’s been about 2.5 weeks since they had their first dose.

I’ve only seen a couple of eggs from them in that entire span of time, when I used to get 1 or 2 eggs a day.

They eat layer feed and oyster shell. I also haven’t seen any more worms come out. Otherwise, their behavior and energy level is 100% normal. Could it just be the medicine stopping their egg production? If so, how long do I let it happen before I start to worry? I’m a little worried now, to be honest.

All advice welcome!

Was production down before you dewormed? Did you repeat the treatment in 10-14days?

Could they have a nest hidden somewhere?

The medicine likely has nothing to do with production. Have your hens had any other stressors going on? Mites/lice, change in environment, addition of new birds, change in feed, etc.?

So many things can affect egg laying. If they are eating/drinking, acting normal/active, etc. then give them time to see what happens.

 

[BlueberryOatmeal]

Was production down before you dewormed? Did you repeat the treatment in 10-14days?

Could they have a nest hidden somewhere?

The medicine likely has nothing to do with production. Have your hens had any other stressors going on? Mites/lice, change in environment, addition of new birds, change in feed, etc.?

So many things can affect egg laying. If they are eating/drinking, acting normal/active, etc. then give them time to see what happens.

It was down a little, but now it feels like it’s basically stopped. The treatments were done 14 days apart. I haven’t seen any bugs on them and there’s not really anywhere to hide eggs in the run. They seem to go into the nesting box but then when I check later there’s nothing in it.

I guess I’ll keep monitoring and hope for the best, since everything else seems normal.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It was down a little, but now it feels like it’s basically stopped. The treatments were done 14 days apart. I haven’t seen any bugs on them and there’s not really anywhere to hide eggs in the run. They seem to go into the nesting box but then when I check later there’s nothing in it.

I guess I’ll keep monitoring and hope for the best, since everything else seems normal.

I'd give them more time. Sometimes when the weather is hot production can also go down. Also depending on breed, age and other factors, they may not lay as many eggs as one might think.