chickens now sleeping out at night!

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hennyandpenny

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chickens now sleeping out at night!
« on: March 09, 2011, 21:05 »
Hi all, only been keeping a couple of chickens since last summer here in the scottish borders.I've built them a good sized house with nesting box and a perch(where they've always roosted at night),a door out to there run (which is quite secure) so door is always open.There is another perch outside next to the house and a large tapaulin over the whole house(was leaking a bit!) which creates a 'porch' area for them. Latley they've started to roost all night on their outside perch (in the porch area).I first noticed because inside the house under the perch was clean ie no poo! its all outside(I've snuck out with a torch aswell last night to see) Any ideas why they're now slleeping out!!??

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Vecten

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #1 on: March 09, 2011, 21:09 »
Umm .... because you put a perch outside?

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hennyandpenny

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #2 on: March 09, 2011, 21:19 »
mmmm never thought of that but they've always had the outside perch,but untill now always'slept in at night'

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min200

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #3 on: March 09, 2011, 21:19 »
Might be its getting warmer oh and have you checked for redmite etc?

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Vecten

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #4 on: March 09, 2011, 21:24 »
Might be its getting warmer oh and have you checked for redmite etc?

Hehe Scottish Borders :)

You could be right about red mite.

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hennyandpenny

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #5 on: March 09, 2011, 21:27 »
ok, if its redmite can I see them (the redmite) to confirm or other tell tale signs of redmite,going to get some redmite treatment tomorow anyway...thanks all

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bantam novice

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #6 on: March 09, 2011, 21:35 »
Hello Hennyandpenny,
if you type redmite into the search box in the top right hand corner you will find lots of info on the subject including how to spot them, deal with them and hopefully stop them coming back.  Good Luck!  :)
11 bantams (and counting!) 2 dogs 1 cat

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rachelr

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #7 on: March 09, 2011, 21:50 »
no not the dreaded red mite this early in the year. Poor you. Ok i am itching now will have to check my birds tomorro

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Catsmuvva

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #8 on: March 10, 2011, 13:01 »
If the perch in their house is removeable, take it out and check the underside. The little bleeders like to gather together in the dark after a good feed and I found that's where they'll congregate.

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joyfull

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #9 on: March 10, 2011, 13:25 »
go out armed with a sheet of white paper - slide this into any joints and then check to see if it comes out red.
Staffies are softer than you think.

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Bailz

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #10 on: March 10, 2011, 20:32 »
will that not just mean you have given the hens a paper cut lol
Cheers Bailz

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Catsmuvva

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #11 on: March 10, 2011, 21:03 »
Sorry, just to clarify my earlier post - when I said check the underside of the perch I meant the part that's in the slot/cradle, not the entire underside!

Good point made by joyfull as well, hadn't thought of that...

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maninvan

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #12 on: March 10, 2011, 21:41 »
i got told to put vasoline on the ends of the perches and in any tight gaps that red mites could hide in, not had to do it yet mind and just a thought.

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hillfooter

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #13 on: March 10, 2011, 22:00 »
Here are some red mite on the end of a perch.  (Start scratching now!!)



Rather than use vaselline (which is really messy) it's a good idea to paint the interior of the house with a slurry paint made from adding Diatom (diatomaceous earth DE) to a dilute disinfectant  (water and disinfectant) Vanodine V18 is best but Poultry Shield can be used too.  Mix to a creamy batter constituancy and paint on roosts and into corners and cracks where they colonise.  It will dry to a light coloured powder which you should avoid washing off just scrape when cleaning.   DE is very drying and stops droppings sticking to perching bars as well as killing RM.
HF
Truth through science.

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Lindeggs

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Re: chickens now sleeping out at night!
« Reply #14 on: March 10, 2011, 22:36 »
Here are some red mite on the end of a perch.  (Start scratching now!!)...


Argh!  That photo sent a shiver up my spine!  :ohmy:  Now I'm off to have a nice dust-bath and boil my clothes.




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