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[puffball]

i was reading an article about broody hens and i read this:

 

"Red Mite love broody hens and their chicks because they are a static and a very easy target. last year we were inundated with calls reporting dead broodies and chicks all through the loss of blood to Red Mite. Be sure to check the broody is not going pale around the wattles and comb as this is a definite sign of an infestation. This paleness is the result of the mite sucking the blood."

 

my hen(amelia) has a pink coloured comb - she did last time as well but no mites were seen.

 

do you think the cause is mites or is it just poor diet(due to broodiness)?

 

thanks

[Egluntyne]

I think it is hormonal more than anything, but broodies are a target for the dreaded redmite.

[puffball]

i really hope it is hormonal!

 

i'm going topop out in the rain and check her and the coop for signs of it - hopefully i have enough time to 'rescue' the eggs if there are mites!

[Tessa the Duchess]

When Annie was broody for 2 and a half months her comb and wattles went a very pale pink I am pretty sure it is a hormonal thing because I am paranoid about red mite and I am 100% positive I don't have them. Also my other hen would have been suffering too and she certainly wasn't.

 

Tessa

[puffball]

thanks for the replies

 

i went and checked and can't see any mites on any of the hens or coop so i'm just going to cross my fingers it stays that way

[Gallina]

There would have to be red mite already in the nesting box for a broody hen to catch red mite. Thankfully with the Eglu and Cube, this is unlikely.

 

But as red mite only come out at night and live in the henhouse, surely any sleeping hen would be a target?

 

Black mite or lice would be more of a risk.

 

I wonder if this is what the big shake after "mating" is all about? After picking up or stroking my crouching hens, they give themselves an enormous shake, probably to make sure that they haven't picked up anything nasty from me.

[puffball]

thats probably why they shake!

 

i always thought they were just disgusted at having come into contact with me!