balti Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 I have had same chickens for 6 years, and every night they take themselves to bed, no problem at all......... Then all of a sudden last week they have flown up onto decking and started roosting on the side panel. They have never done this before and I wonder why the change? - Kenny cock goes up first about 7 then the other 2 chickens follow and they huddle together .... I have to go out then and pick them off and put them in their eglu, Tonight they came out and flew back up and were quite adament about wanting to stay - got them in eventually, Has this happened to anyone else? They have never done this before... ??? Any ideas? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
millie Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Have you checked for red mite?just a thought. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted May 12, 2012 Share Posted May 12, 2012 Have you checked for red mite in the house? They live in the house during the day (cracks & spaces, like the ends of the roosting bars) and come out at night to feast on the chooks so the chooks don't want to go in at night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balti Posted May 12, 2012 Author Share Posted May 12, 2012 I cleaned it out today and threw red mite power of everything. But do you think red mite effected eglu's?? How can i tell - can i see them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hens@HalfMoonLane Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Had the same last year, I caught it very early but couldn't work out where they were hiding in the day as I could only see them crawling round at night. I clean and powder my eglu weekly - the mites were living in a crack in the soil under the eglu where it was really dry. Took about 3 treatments of the crack to get rid of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 You may never see the mites, but sometimes you can see their waste - it looks a bit like cigarette ash, sort of grey dirt. Go here and look at the pics in the red mite section - there are pictures of the grey waste and the mites on the edge of an eglu. http://club.omlet.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=41&t=6949 The mites are only red after feeding (eg in the morning) and are grey-ish when not full of blood You can get mites in an eglu, it's just not as likely as there are fewer places for them to hide. I wipe the roosting bars and edges of the eglu most weekends, then once a month take it all apart for a good wash and spray with an anti-mite spray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balti Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 Well i can't believe it!! - Had them for years and this is the first time red mite has come to light! I will have to take apart and jet wash and clean thoroughly. My only concern is they don't like being handled especially the cockeral so getting the power on them will be interesting. I suppose i could wait until dark? I might move them off the stones as both eglus are on a stoney area - easier to move around and then hose the stones. Thanks again for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Personally I'm not sure I'd want to handle the birds at night as that's when the mites will be on them and then you might get some on YOU Be careful, as they can get on your clothes and into your house, yuck. I guess your several years mite-free goes to show that eglus are pretty good at keeping them at bay Good luck, and let us know how it goes! I'd like to know if you find any evidence of the little blighters, as I don't know of any other reason they'd all stop going in at night Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balti Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 I cleaned them out yesterday and washed everything - not with jet hose though.... and dusted with red mite powder and never saw anything strange.... but yesterday i have to admit something strange happened and its only now i have linked it . One chicken came out of run then kinda keeled over in slow motion onto her side and she let me pick her up .... i watched her all day... and she seemed to be ok - occasionally sitting down. I just took it that she is an old girl now and can't zoom about all the time. Now maybe they are linked. And i wouldn't mind but i had 3 silkies delivered yesterday, they are in a separate eglu and run but i will need to now keep an eye on them too.... I will jet wash today and try and get a red mite cleaner to wish it all with... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balti Posted May 13, 2012 Author Share Posted May 13, 2012 Well I illegally jet washed the eglu. And also sprayed pink stuff and threw powder. Nothing was really obvious in regards to red mites but then I noticed the egg door. Is there any reason why there is an addition hole on the inside Of the door ? I noticed what looked little cotton wool in the opening. Could it be a nest ? There hole leads to a follow door which by now was full of water. And on takin the wool stuff out there might of been eggs or something behind. Maybe this was where they were hiding. Not sure. Could not empty out the contents of door so spayed and pumped powder down it....hope it works Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted May 13, 2012 Share Posted May 13, 2012 Well I illegally jet washed the eglu Don't worry, they won't be coming for you - you're allowed to use a hosepipe to clean out animal housing, it's a hygiene thing I noticed what looked little cotton wool in the opening. Could it be a nest ? There hole leads to a follow door which by now was full of water. And on takin the wool stuff out there might of been eggs or something behind. No idea! I'm not sure what you mean by a hole on the inside of the eglu door And I've never seen anything that looks like cotton wool, so I'm not sure what that was. Doesn't sound good though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superkitty Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I had a hole on the inside of my egg port door as well - I ended up emptying it out, spraying half a bottle of total mite kill in there and then duct taping over it so nothing could get out. It seemed to do the trick. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 I bought a 2nd hand pink classic and gave it a good wash and left it to dry in the sun when I went to turn it over there was these tiny grey things moving about on what would be the step where the door opens so I gave it another good scrub with even more disinfectant. When I went back they were there again. So being a bit horrified got the screw driver and unscrewed the 2 grey base parts and sure enough there were loads living in the old bedding and dirt that had got trapped between the 2 bits over the years. So perhaps you need to take it totally apart? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennym Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 unscrewed the 2 grey base parts and sure enough there were loads living in the old bedding and dirt that had got trapped between the 2 bits over the years. Yikes!! I've never even thought about that!?! Blech Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balti Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 I did unscrew it all.... but the eglu is 2nd hand too and the screws that unscrew the house from the run are totally "Ooops, word censored!"ed, they are rusted and screw tops mashed up! cant even fix a screw driver to them to get them out. I had to tip the whole thing on its side to work on the house - doing that a few times will break the whole thing i think! I will tape up the hole on inside of egg port door ( still not sure why its there) - a breeding ground i think.... but i pumped so much stuff in there. _ just wish my old chickens would allow me to handle them so i can rub stuff on them. My fault, I should of handled them more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Hi Balti, You will need to delouse the chickens or they may well end up reinfecting the housing. As far as I am aware the redmite go back to bed after feasting on the chucks, but you only need a few to stay on board to set the whole infestation off again. I don't handle my girls a lot, (except one who seems to enjoy it), but they do have to put up with me for their monthly inspection and shake of the delousing powder. Shake some over the bedding aswell each time you change it. If you still struggle to get hold of the girls you could try a really good shake in their dustbath if they use the same place all the time. It doesn't work for me as they dig a new one every day, but could be an option for you. Good Luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balti Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 Thanks Duncan - will try again tonight but will lock up Kenny cock first. He tried to go for me each time i grabbed the girls last night, Caught one of them but was so distressed i let her go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Hi Balti - was it you or the hen that got too distressed I find its me more than the hens. No advice on the cockerel I'm afraid - not allowed one My Bluebell hates being handled. I tend to grab her then hug her close for a minute or 2 until she calms down before I start trying to get the powder on her. Don't know why it works but if you tuck her head under your arm so her bum is in the air she will struggle less allowing you to do the back end. They are hardier than you think, one of the breeders had a girl by the legs to get her in the box. I am not that confident (or maybe just feel a bit mean) at swinging them around like that. but find the hug works, but only for a limited time, you have to get in there quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Omlet do supply new screws and bolts if you want to change the damaged ones (if you can get them off that is). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
balti Posted May 14, 2012 Author Share Posted May 14, 2012 I searched last night on line for the nuts and bolts - but couldn't find them! or it could have been the wine... but i really can't get off whats on there at all... there is nothing to put the screw driver in at all. such a shame. In regards to comment about getting hold of the chickens. I went yesterday to a place where they breed chickens but also a pet food stockist etc.... He showed me how to get them. He held them by legs ( they were only young and a bit more nibble ) and he just turned her on her back - no problems at all. Last night i caught one of mine only cause it was about 7 and she was about to roost and held her legs whilst i held her body and i thought her old legs were gonna snap. I did try hugging her but he was quiet for about 3 seconds then went mad. They just run away when i bend to pick them up - then it turns out like a benny hill sketch. Today cause of rain they are soaked! I will still try and catch them again though after i put that cockerel behind bars! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan08 Posted May 14, 2012 Share Posted May 14, 2012 Good Luck Let us know how you get on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
