Mites?

[Keedlez5]

Hi all,

So I have 4 hens, all about 9 months now. As of about late November ( I'm in Mass) they all started kicking out the straw I had put in their nest boxes. I'd read that mites can hide in straw so I swapped out for wood shavings in the boxes ( they still kicked them out). Chickens started just laying in the coop. I checked the coop itself the best I could and didn't see any signs of mites, but I don't really know what I'm looking for or if I'd really even see them.

Now for the past few weeks it's clear to me that only one hen, our Wyandotte, is laying ( they all have pretty distinctive egg colors). I know most hens slow down in the winter, but I had heard that chickens in their first year tend to lay even in winter. So I am wondering if they aren't laying because they are ill with something ( 2 EEs and 1 Welsummer). I haven't had a chance to give them all a good once over yet, but plan to check them out up close tomorrow and check vents and feathers for signs.

Of the 4, three look the same as usual and I don't see any noticeable issues. The only one I really notice a difference with is the hen that is laying. She has some sections of her feathers that look fluffier than normal, like the downy fluff is coming up. I don't think she would be molting again since she already went through her first molts.

Could this be a sign of mites? The feathers and the other hens not laying? Hen in the foreground is one with feather issues and our only layer rn.

 

[sourland]

Increase the lip on the nest box to keep them from kicking out the nest material. All birds appear to be in fine condition. The lighter colored EE is a cockerel - not a pullet.

 

[nuthatched]

They're not laying because it's winter, with low daylight hours.

 

[FarmerGirl101]

It is perfectly normal for them to not lay in the winter. This is due to less daylight. Adding some sort of lip to the nesting box will help stop them from kicking the bedding out. What you can also do is instead of adding in bedding, you can use turf grass squares. They can't kick it out and much easier clean up.

 

[Keedlez5]

Increase the lip on the nest box to keep them from kicking out the nest material. All birds appear to be in fine condition. The lighter colored EE is a cockerel - not a pullet.

Oh yes, we are well aware ...he's the roo who slipped in and has been angling to be chicken dinner. Part of the reason I haven't been able to check on hens as closely as I'd like is that he will attack us all.

 

[Keedlez5]

It is perfectly normal for them to not lay in the winter. This is due to less daylight. Adding some sort of lip to the nesting box will help stop them from kicking the bedding out. What you can also do is instead of adding in bedding, you can use turf grass squares. They can't kick it out and much easier clean up.

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried increasing the lip but it only solved the problem for about half a day lol. Guess I need to make it bigger or try something else.

 

[aart]

Post pics of your nests.

If you suspect mites and/or for regular check ups:
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Look fast, they will scatter quickly once the feathers are parted and the light hits them.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

 

[Ridgerunner]

Yes, post photos of your nests.

Some pullets, not all but some, will lay throughout their first fall and winter, all the way until the molt the following fall.

Some pullets, not all but some, will not lay through their first winter. There is nothing wrong with them if they don't, it's just the way they are.

 

[nuthatched]

Oh yes, we are well aware ...he's the roo who slipped in and has been angling to be chicken dinner. Part of the reason I haven't been able to check on hens as closely as I'd like is that he will attack us all.

He's soup. No need to prolong the inevitable.

 

[Keedlez5]

Here's a pic of the nest boxes from the inside of the coop. They are empty as every single time I've put new straw in they have immediately kicked it out. My suspicion is that there were some seeds in the straw still and they were going after it to see if they could find more. They seem happy enough to make nests with it inside the coop itself, just not in the boxes ( possible the boxes are too cold as they jut out from side of coop).

Also, noticed that one of the hens is missing feathers around the back of her neck. I see bluish feather shafts coming up...I suspected one of the other hens was pecking at her....but now am wondering if she and the other one are molting despite being 9 months. There are a bunch of feathers of all kinds on the coop floor. Look like tail feathers and downy feathers. Don't notice anything weird with the dropped feather. Pics below. Plan on making a flock block or something in case it's a boredom issue and switching girls to a higher protein feed. Weather has been cold and we can't let them free range much as we have hawks that have gone after them.
Some pics below of the Gold Laced Wy. Who seems to be losing downy feathers...and the EE who is missing neck feathers..best shot I could get of it on her.

He's soup. No need to prolong the inevitable.

He was due for slaughter Thanksgiving, but then our whole family got the flu...and then we just haven't had a day to do it. I'm tempted to do it today, but now hubby is sick again and I think I'm gonna need a second pair of hands to get this bigger.