Hen suddenly separate from flock?

[LinzeeBrie]

Hello! I hope this isn't a silly question... Any idea why my sweet 2ish year old Austrolorp might suddenly not be hanging out with her buddies? We have a mixed heritage flock of 7 hens and 1 roo, that are ALWAYS together... They wander all over the acreage in the cutest little gang. But for the last couple of days, Cinder has been wandering around alone. She doesn't seem to be broody, because she's still out and about.... I *believe* she layed yoday... She's drinking (at least I saw her down by the creek) and I think she's eating... For the most part she's still been exploring, but this afternoon she was just laying on the path to the coop, and this evening she was roosting way before everyone else (they were hanging out under the deck waiting for dinner scraps as per usual)...

 

[aart]

Is any of the flock picking on her?

he I have a bird that is acting off I isolate bird in a wire cage within the coop for a day or two....so I can closely monitor their intake of food and water, crop function(checking at night and in morning before providing more feed), and their poops. Feel their abdomen, from below vent to between legs, for squishy or hard swelling. Check for external parasites or any other abnormalities.

Best to put crate right in coop or run so bird is still 'with' the flock.
I like to use a fold-able wire dog crate (24"L x 18"W x 21"H) with smaller mesh(1x2) on bottom of crate under tray.
Then you can put tray underneath crate to better observe droppings without it being stepped in. If smaller mesh is carefully installed, tray can still be used inside crate.

 

[LinzeeBrie]

I just checked her, and she does have lice... But if I'm honest, I think most of them do? I've treated it a couple times, and done a full coop cleanout etc... But it doesn't seem to be bothering any of them?? No pecking, no feather pulling, no redness/irritation...

 

[aart]

I just checked her, and she does have lice... But if I'm honest, I think most of them do? I've treated it a couple times, and done a full coop cleanout etc... But it doesn't seem to be bothering any of them?? No pecking, no feather pulling, no redness/irritation...

How did you treat?
Dusting or spraying with permethrin onto their skin every 7-10 days until you no longer see any live lice should do the trick. It might not seem like it bothers them, but it does.

My Bug Check notes:
Check them all 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).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

 

[LinzeeBrie]

I just gave her another spray with permethrin... And I'm going to sound negligent here, but I'm just not sure she's ever NOT had lice?! I've only ever seen them near her vent, and at most 5 at a time - never anywhere else on her... She doesn't have a fever, her comb is bright red, she's not pruning or pecking... I'll spot check and spray the others this evening too, and clean out the coop right now... I just know for sure that she's had lice before and never acted like this ....

 

[aart]

never anywhere else on her

No egg clusters at base of feathers?
Google images and check all your birds....or not<shrugs>

 

[LinzeeBrie]

I really, really hope that I'm not coming across as dismissive or ungrateful, because that is not the case AT ALL!! I greatly appreciate your help!! I just came back from checking everyone, and a handful had lice scurrying from their vents - no egg clusters or nits that I could see... I'm using up the rest of my permethrin spray, cleaning out the coop, spraying the roost and nesting boxes.... I definitely want to eradicate these buggers, I'm just not sure if they're what's bothering Cinder...

 

[LinzeeBrie]

They're all happily back together for now