Rhoderunner Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I've had my three chickens since February and they have always slept together in the eglu. Until last night when Taffie went to sleep on her own on top of the eglu run. I lifted her up and put her in with the other two when I went out to lock them up. But does anyone know why she suddenly did this?! She's not pecked by the others and they have all always got on well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 Maybe it is because she was hot, or late home and couldn't find her way in as they don't see too well once light falls below a certain level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 26, 2009 Share Posted May 26, 2009 I'd also just give the roosting bars a quick wipe over with a piece of kitchen roll - if it comes away streaked red anywhere you have red mite in their house, which a thorough clean and sprinkle of diatomaceous earth will help resolve. She might be avoiding going to bed for many reasons, as Eglutine suggested, but wiping their roost will just give you peace of mind that you have no creepy crawlies feasting on them at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhoderunner Posted May 27, 2009 Author Share Posted May 27, 2009 I'd also just give the roosting bars a quick wipe over with a piece of kitchen roll - if it comes away streaked red anywhere you have red mite in their house, which a thorough clean and sprinkle of diatomaceous earth will help resolve. She might be avoiding going to bed for many reasons, as Eglutine suggested, but wiping their roost will just give you peace of mind that you have no creepy crawlies feasting on them at night. Thanks for the advice. No sign of red mites, but I sprinkled on the diatom anyway. Last night I put them in the run early so she had no choice but to sleep inside the eglu. Hope that has re-programmed her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Hope that has re-programmed her! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Glad you don't have any sign of redmite. For anyone else reading this post my girl stopped going in to the cube to roost and I did not realise the house was infested. She eventually died so if they do this please check carefully for the dreaded redmite. Look in the nesting box with a torch when it's dark - if you have them they'll be crawling around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhoderunner Posted May 27, 2009 Author Share Posted May 27, 2009 OMG I am so sorry to hear that, urban chick. I hope it is not red mite. I will check again tonight with a torch. But the diatom should do the trick? Or should I use something else as well? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urbanchick Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 Yep, diatom and poultry shield are the best defense for redmite and I would recommend EVERYONE uses them each time they clean out the house. Redmite is alot more common than people realise and will happily live in a plastic house, especially in the nooks and crannies. The advantage of the eglu and cube is that it's much easier to eradicate than in a wooden house. And it's worth upgrading to plastic roosting bars if you still have the wooden ones. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Budgies Posted May 27, 2009 Share Posted May 27, 2009 So sorry to hear that you lost your chicken to redmite Urban Chick. It's a timely reminder to all of us how prevalent they are. Wild birds carry them, and we all get wild birds coming into our garden don't we? Thanks for sharing your story. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
