AlisonH Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 I've just gone to put the 2 hens to bed and gave them a quick once over and noticed that they both have quite a few feathers missing on their lower tummies. They are both laying fine and seem well but was wondering if they have lice or mites? I gave them a quick dusting with red mite powder and spread some liberally around the eglu as I had some for emergencies - I've never had this problem before, but as it was dark it was difficult to see anything obvious. Will I definitely be able to see what it is - it might be neither?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BizzyMomma Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 How old are they?? Could it be that they are starting their annual moult??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlisonH Posted January 29, 2012 Author Share Posted January 29, 2012 They are about 11 months I think - I haven't found any obvious feathers in the run, I guess they are somewhere in the garden where they've been out. Will they moult around this age? I hope it is. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 It could be moulting, or it also could be caused by nestbox sleeping. It's probably best to give your hens a quick once-over for lice and mites just in case. Lice are orangey brown in colour, visible to the naked eye and tend to hang out in the fluffy feathers under the vent and under the wings. The most likely mites are red mites which live in the nooks and crannies of the coop (not on the birds), so check that too. They are teeny tiny, and more difficult to spot. It's probably easiest to shine a torch into the coop after the hens have gone to roost to see if you can spot any movement as the mites come out of hiding and head to the birds for their midnight feast. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlisonH Posted January 29, 2012 Author Share Posted January 29, 2012 One of the hens has recently taken to sleeping in the nest area - does that make their feathers come out? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted January 29, 2012 Share Posted January 29, 2012 Not necessarily, but sometimes the bedding can irritate their tummies and cause some feather loss. Mine sleep in the nestbox and have fully feathered tummies, but I know there have been a few people on here whose hens have lost some feathers from sleeping in the nest box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 If they are sleeping in the nest box, then the extra warmth may well cause them to pluck out their breast feathers as they would usually do in the summer. Check them for lice any mites anyway though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlisonH Posted January 30, 2012 Author Share Posted January 30, 2012 Thank you for everyone's comments, hubbie cleaned out the Eglu thoroughly, took out the paper out of the nest box and checked birds over as much as he could - he's not great at holding them! I'll do it when I get home in the light next. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 30, 2012 Share Posted January 30, 2012 Aha! Paper in the nest box... best get rid of that - it's a bit of a lice magnet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlisonH Posted January 31, 2012 Author Share Posted January 31, 2012 What do you suggest instead of paper? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted January 31, 2012 Share Posted January 31, 2012 Aubiose or Hemcore.... have a search of the forum under those words and you'll find loads of threads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlisonH Posted February 1, 2012 Author Share Posted February 1, 2012 Thanks - I used to use Hemcore but unfortunately our local stockist doesn't sell it anymore - will have to look elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
