Found out why our old hens aren't laying...

[77horses]

well, our old old hens stopped laying a few weeks ago for some reason.

We didn't know why at first. They have Scaly Leg Mites, which we are gonna get rid of as soon as possible. Then I found something that someone said about these nasty buggers:
"They(the mites) may cause long term reduction of egg production due mainly from the stress of frequent irritation, but that's about it."

So THAT'S what must've been bothering the poor old ladies!

 

[swtangel321]

Wow, That stinks.... Good thing you figured out why, maybe they will start laying again after you fix the problem !!

 

[hankshens]

You can treat you coop with flea nad tick spray for mites. I spray mine down every time I clean it just to be safe.

 

[rufus]

Rub vicks vapor rub on their legs and feet. At first they will resist it, later on it seems like they like it.

Rufus

 

[SandraChick]

Any OILY thing will work.

-Vaseline
-Olive Oil
-Vics (although the vapors can be too strong if the whole flock has it on their legs...and it can increase circulation and make their legs "hot" if over used)

DO NOT USE CAR OIL...this is an old remedy...but the oil these days has all these additives and you're more likely to burn their skin with it. I prefer to use oil I'd be willing to eat!

I have a chicken that I rescued who had advanced scaley mites (her name is Big Red)....when I washed her...the her scales were coming OFF. Her legs still look aweful, but look way better than when I got her. She is one of my BEST layers and gives me HUGE eggs.

It can be hard to treat in advanced stages because they're so deep under the scales.....I ended up having to give her Ivermectin to get rid of them all...and I all my chickens get "maintenace". If I have to catch them for any reason---I usually oil their legs. I also put orange oil on all wood surfaces in their coop---especially their roosts.

I would treat your WHOLE flock...Some may just not be showing it and are in the beginning stages...and if they don't it will act as a preventative.

Good luck
Sandra

 

[77horses]

Thanks everyone! we have heard good things about Vaseline, so we will try that first.

It's only those two old hens that are showing it, but they share the coop with a RIR rooster AND our two young laing Red Stars, who don't have scaly legs right now(the rooster doesn't either) But we will get them when they are roosting, since they are hard to catch in the daylight. Then we will rub down the rooster's legs and the younger hen's legs.
These two old hens layed Large-X large eggs daily, until several weeks ago. Hopefully this whole mite thing will go away! Not to mention our two new baby chicks have lice. But we have powder for that.

 

[jbowyer01]

I'm glad you figured out the problem. I was wondering how old should the chickens be for applying oil or vaseline to their legs? I mean mainly for just maintaing health.

 

[77horses]

Quote:
mmm...not sure. But to be safe, i wouldn't put any oil on baby chicks unless they are 3+ days old. but this is just to be safe. It is probab;y OK to rub their legs daily with this when they are younger....? Not sure so I wouldn't really try it unless you knew what you were doing.

 

[jbowyer01]

I wish I had some 3 day old fuzzybuts but mine are still young. Between 10 and 12 weeks. I use DE in their coop but I'm always on the look out to prevent a problem before it happens. And no I dont know what I'm doing

my family already thinks I'm nuts for giving them yogart and grits in the morning. Thanks for answering!