Lice or mites or something else?

[Futuregreenefarm]

Is there something going on with this cockerel and pullet that I am missing? I am fairly new to chickens. They shake their heads a lot. It seems the black on his beak is getting worse. Don't know if that's normal or not? I was concerned about mites so I treated the little house with premetharin but only the house. Not the chickens. Was given wrong age at first but they are between 13 to 15 weeks now I think. I couldn't get as close up to the pullet as him.

Also, they stay inside their house a lot. They run into it everytime a bird flies over. They go outside some and forge but the door is open all day and they still stay inside a lot even though they are hot. The cockerel sits with his wings laid low I guess from being hot. When they are outside, they act pretty normal, forging and all. But they are definitely inside more than they are outside. That's seems strange to me also but I don't know...?

 

[Eggcessive]

What is you coop like? Any pictures of it or your set-up? It sounds like you may need some extra ventilation that pulls air through and out of the coop to cool it. Also shade is a good way to keep it cool. Do you have an I closed run that is covered?

The dark combs are probably normal coloring. Rooster might have a little damage from fencing. Panting, holding wings out from body are signs of being hot. Drooping wings can be dehydration. Can you try tempting them outside with a small treat such as scratch grains? If they have only been there for a few days, it is normal to remain inside a lot. But coops get very overheated. I have a fan on the opposite end of my barn that pulls air in from the door and out through the back window. Plus there are 4 other windows open and covered with hardware cloth for protection.

At night when they are roosting is a good time to pick them up and part the feathers under their vent and bellies to look for moving lice or mites. I use a headlamp with the red light on to take them off, and that is less upsetting to them and the others.

 

[Futuregreenefarm]

This is the house I have. Obviously from TS. It is small. I only have the 2 chickens in it. The window stays open all the time now and there is a vent in the back that stays open. It is situated under trees for shade. They have been in the house for almost 5 weeks now. Always have access to water and I see them drinking it some.

We plan to build a bigger one soon but this is it for now.

 

[Futuregreenefarm]

Also they forge in the grass under the trees. They stay close which is good since they are still young. But they have a pretty descent area they can forge and lay in tall grass to cool themselves or hide, all shaded. Which I feel they did at first but here lately, they stay inside more. And they fear all birds who fly over. I hope they get old enough eventually to not fear outside birds?