[hbelle]

Hi, I have been keeping chickens for a couple of years now and have reguarly found answers to my questions on the forum without having to post my own question, but now I'm stuck.  I have 6 chickens at the moment, and my maran who is 2 years and laid most days has now stopped laying, and hasnt laid for about a week.  Shes not molting and I have checked her for lice etc, and she appears clean.  Her comb is still bright red and she has also stopped roosting on the perches and now just roosts on the chicken house floor, not even in the nesting boxes.  I thought it may be red mite as I have had problems with that before, but I have checked the house (ifting perches up etc)but I cant find any sign of them.  I admit I have been checkingh the house in daytime hrs and will check at night tomorrow (as on nights tonight).  As I said shes normal and healthy from what I can tell, as are all the other chucks with the exception of 2 who are moulting.  Does anyone have any ideas?? 
Thankyou

[joyfull]

at her age she may not lay again until next spring, but as for her no longer roosting have you checked her feet and legs for bumblefoot or scaly leg mite?

[hbelle]

thanks for that I will check in the morning.  If it was scaly leg would that also account for flaking skin coming off the legs at night?

[Sassy]

Use a folded sheet of white paper to slide into cracks, joins, etc and slide about. Will show red if there are red mite (as long as you don't have a red hen hut!!)