[Fannyann]

Have had our 2 chooks for nearly 2 weeks now. For the first couple of nights they needed to be placed on their perch at night until they got the idea. Since then they have been "conforming" until last night and tonight when they have perched on the divide between the nest boxes.
The house is new (hand built by hubby).
Do you think it's mites? Too dark to look now, or laziness? or could perch be too high? It's roughly 10-12inches above floor.
Have put them on their perch tonight and they are still there as far as I know!
Any ideas? :?

[richyrich7]

Yes you could have mites as they can easily be carried by the hens, but don't panic don't think it's causing them to roost wrong. Go in to the coop at night with a dimish torch after the hens have well settled and you'll see the mites crawling about on the hens or near their feet if they have any. Just try not to  startle the birds.

Persevere with the perching if they settle between the nest boxes can you put a steep sloping roof on them ? or a rolling bar to stop them perching? just keep moving them to where you want them, worked for me.

[Fannyann]

Have just been to see hens and there didn't seem to be any mites on perch or their legs. Do I need to check under feathers or would it be obvious if they had them?

Think we'll modify nestboxes as you suggest. Thanks for the ideas.

[richyrich7]

Last year when mine had them the orrible things where every where  :roll:  You could have a look under the feathers, but red mites generally live in the nooks and crannies of the coop. They seem to like under the ends of the perch so make sure you can remove it to clean, I paint the ends in paraffin that seems to kill em.


 Have a look at them during the day, don't scare them at night. By the way mites quite like human blood too, they ain't fussy as I found out  :!:

[Fannyann]

Makes me itch just thinking about it!

[Aunt Sally]

Take some white kitchen towel or tissue paper and wipe it into the nooks and crannies during the day.  If it comes away stained red it will  be red mite (or rather your chooks blood)  :shock:

It is a good idea to take preventative measures against red mite all the time.  Dust all nooks and crannies, litter areas and nest box with red mite powder or diatom.  

Do not bring in any equipment which has been used before without thorough disinfection.  Inspect and dust any new birds you bring in too.

Happy chook keeping  

[Fannyann]

Will try the paper towel trick, have some red mite powder sitting in the shed thinking I only needed to use it to cure mites not prevent them :oops:
being a beginner I need as much common sense advice as I can get. Feel like a new mum all over again :!:

[Aunt Sally]

being a beginner I need as much common sense advice as I can get. :!:

We've all been there  

[richyrich7]

being a beginner I need as much common sense advice as I can get. :!:

We've all been there  

2nd set of hens and I'm constantly scratching my head  :?

[Fannyann]

Thanks for the support Have been round with a paper towel......no red bits but will dust coop and dust bath with the powder as suggested.

[Fannyann]

Aunt Sally, is one of your chooks a Bovan Nera? Looks very much like my Clary. Also have Mary who's a warren. Spent ages looking at different breeds but decided on hybrids to start with......can see this turning into a growing collection if all goes well!

[Aunt Sally]

Aunt Sally, is one of your chooks a Bovan Nera?

Yes that's Hattie,  she is very beautiful and she knows it, spends a lot of time preening, but is not very bright.  Gerty on the other hand is a total scruf bag of feathers, but is much more intelligent than most peole I know .

Present company excepted  

[GrannieAnnie]

(quote from RichyRich:-  you'll see the mites crawling about on the hens or near their feet if they have any.)

Of course hens have feet Richy!!!!   silly boy      

[richyrich7]

(quote from RichyRich:-  you'll see the mites crawling about on the hens or near their feet if they have any.)

Of course hens have feet Richy!!!!   silly boy      

Not mine I like drumsticks