Bored chickens

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I could see that with one of them. She's on the smaller side, but the other one is a rooster and he's far bigger than the rest of the hens.

He may be hanging with her because he's sexually maturing and the bottom hens are often easier to mate, and dominate, so sometimes roosters attach themselves to them.

 

[Peppercorngal]

Maybe what you are seeing is the normal chickens preening. They use their beaks to clean their feathers and straighten them out as well. it's a grooming procedure that chickens do daily. They also like dirt baths which seems awful messy, but it keeps them from having those nasty mites! Watch them a bit and you will see. Good Luck with your flock! Welcome here too.

 

[chickens really]

Often they stay in the coop because they are being harassed or bullied by other flock members. Have you watched what happens when you put them out?

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[aart]

So you just got all the birds(how many)?
They all came from the same place, and are the same age?

This is my first time having chickens so what do mites and lice look like? And what do I do if I find them?

Check them over real well for mites and/or lice.

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).