2009 Omlet cube and run for sale

[jenjins1]

About a week ago i noticed that three out of six hens were not going in the hen house at night which was very strange but they seemed happy so i didnt bother putting them in and they were safe too. I thought maybe they were fed up with the broody one that has been sitting around in there for more than six weeks now.

 

On wednesday i pulled the broody one out so she could get a drink and some water and when i got back indoors i noticed that i had some bugs on me and i then thought, oh no red mite. Only had chickens for 18 months and last summer, being our first, we didnt get any. Thursday morning we sprayed all the house with poultry shield and put only a bit of straw in for them to lay on and kept them shut out at night. Now i know why they didnt want to go in at night because of the mites. These mites are straw coloured and i am told that they are red mites as they turn red once they have sucked the blood from the chickens. We also covered each bird in mite powder. Did find a couple or red ones close to birds skin. The broody one had far more mites on than the others.

 

Since all this started with me closing them out at night but letting them in first thing in the morning to lay, there has been egg eating going on. Think i may have found the culprit as they were covered in egg joke! A completely opposite time of day to lay as usually they have all laid by 10am too.

 

Could it be a case of the mites, me keeping them in at night and not letting them go in when they want etc that has upset their routine?

 

I have ordered a plastic dog kennel which i will adapt for them will should get rid of the mite problem each year and be far easier to clean.

 

Not entirely sure if these are red mites and the change in routine can make such a difference to them.

 

I hope that it doesnt become a habit for the eggs to be eaten but i am sure that they will be impressed with their new house on tuesday. Mite free too!

 

Thanks ..........