[broodyhen]

I have seriously just had a nightmare  :blink: Pat and her 5 chicks have been roaming today (first day she has brought them out) and she WOULD NOT go back in to roost  Her coop is like an apartment on stilts is the best way to describe it!

We tried everything, she even went up the ramp but her chicks wouldn't follow so she jumped straight back down. In the finish after deleberating hubby had to 'glove up' and physically pick her and put her inside then follow up with chick after chick.  Now we feel terrible  that we had to pick them all up to go into roost and feel that should have been her job to show them where to go and what to do. We felt we had no choice as it has dropped cold and she is protected by the wire (which goes underneath the coop) but feel they were really at risk. Will she harm the chicks now that we had to intervene??? Also should I let them out tomorrow as we don't want to go through that again for fear of 'butting in' when Pat and nature should be doing there thing 

Could do (yet again) with some advice folks please! 

broodyhen

[joyfull]

I had to do this with my little ones as they couldn't climb the ramp. I put all 5 babies in and then mum followed. Don't worry when they get a little bit older they will manage it, and mum knows you so she won't mind 

[broodyhen]

aww thank you so much for that! i never thought of doing it the other way round  it getting the chicks in first. 

but do i let them out tomorrow? - i dont think i could go through that again 

broodyhen

[joyfull]

yes and for the next week or two you will have to help them back inside. They will get upset and cry for mum  while you are trying to catch hold of them but don't worry as soon as they are snuggled down together they will be ok. In a couple of weeks they will be able to fly up (mine learnt to fly up before they could walk up the ramp  )

[broodyhen]

right ok  i'll have a go tomorrow.... thanks again i really feel pathetic asking such silly questions but our little gang mean to world to us  and i want to do the best thing for them.

broodyhen

[joyfull]

no such thing as a silly question on here,  , and don't worry they will soon get the hang of things.

[Caralou]

I still haven't let mum and chicks out of their run for fear of not getting them back in again 

[joyfull]

mixed corn or meal worms will get them back in cara 

[broodyhen]

think i spotted red mites this morning  when can i clean the coop out??? got a wary hen and 5 chicks to consider  i jeyes fluid it last thursday in preparation for the eminate arrivals! is it too early and am i being too fussy ??


broodyhen

[joyfull]

No you are not being too fussy, if you have got red mites sort it out as soon as possible (ie this morning so the coop has time to dry before tonight). Red mites can kill and having young ones they will be the first. Sorry if this sounds like I am being nasty but you really do need to act asap. Joyxx

[Foxy]

can you get hold of poultry shield or diatom? jeyes wont really do much in respect of killing red mite. Joyfull is spot on, redmite can easily kill a broody hen and chicks I'm afraid

[joyfull]

Broodyhen where abouts are you - perhaps someone on here is local who might have some poultry shield if you can't get any. joyxx

[broodyhen]

oh god 

i did actually purchase some stuff at the weekend just in case - i know that jeyes fluid doesnt kill red mite but just wanted the area clean. i have got 'red mite concentrate' its a liquid form any good??? also got poultry louse powder - which you dust in the bedding also any good???

i now feel slightly panicky 

broodyhen

[joyfull]

Don't know what the redmite concentrate is as I use poultry shield and diatom. Just follow the directions on the bottle - I assume you have to dilute it and then spray it (I have a small preasure sprayer - the type you get from b&q what you pump up to preasurize it) and get it into all the nooks and crannies (don't forget the roof). When dry I then rub diatom - your louse powder may also be ok - into the wood. put down clean bedding (ideally burn the old stuff as they can live in it for months  ) and sprinkle with powder again. If you suspect fleas, ticks or lice as well - broodys can be susseptable(sp?) to them then ask your vet for some frontline - you will have to sign for this as it isn't tested on chickens. Most people use the stuff fot kittens but my vet gave me the spray type on the instructions to use it very very sparingly especially on the little ones. I think with the drops you put 1 drop on the chicks and 2 on the adults between the shoulder blades - with the spray they just have a very little squirt.
No need to feel panicky - you have got yourself prepared and spotted them early on - rather than waiting until you got them and then having to try and get the stuff. Now are you sure they are red mite and not those little red spidery things??

[broodyhen]

just completely cleaned it out! yeah i had dilute it down then sprayed it i did the nooks and crannies little *  well they were like a little brown circle thing that moves?? i assumed red mite cos there were about 5 of them?? i lost a warren last week so im conscious of anything crawly on my hens.....dont think she died of red mite but there were a hell of alot of lice on her

i'll let it dry out then rub the powder into wood - then put clean bedding shavings down then dust with powder again. thank you so much for your help 

broodyhen