Living situation to blame for bald spots?

[KerryCooks]

Is the only time I can check for mites first thing in the morning or in the middle of the night? If I did the paper towel trick right now (11 AM) would it not be clear evidence? Reason I'm asking is I'm about to go scoop the coop and add some new shavings...

 

[21hens-incharge]

Don't change those shavings until after you have done the paper towel check.

If you have creepy crawlers in there you will have to do a full clean and treat the coop too.

Best time to check is about 30 minutes after the birds have gone to roost. That is also the easiest time to check birds. I grab a bird off the roost and check while wearing a flashlight headband.
The birds don't fight much at night.

 

[Mamatomany123]

Is the only time I can check for mites first thing in the morning or in the middle of the night? If I did the paper towel trick right now (11 AM) would it not be clear evidence? Reason I'm asking is I'm about to go scoop the coop and add some new shavings...

I don't think you would be able to tell now unless you had a horrible infestation. The reason night time is best is because the mites come out to feast while the chickens roost. It doesn't have to be middle of the night. By the time it's dark should be fine.

 

[KerryCooks]

I don't think you would be able to tell now unless you had a horrible infestation. The reason night time is best is because the mites come out to feast while the chickens roost. It doesn't have to be middle of the night. By the time it's dark should be fine.

OK perfect, I'll do it this evening. Thanks so much!!

 

[KerryCooks]

Don't change those shavings until after you have done the paper towel check.

If you have creepy crawlers in there you will have to do a full clean and treat the coop too.

Best time to check is about 30 minutes after the birds have gone to roost. That is also the easiest time to check birds. I grab a bird off the roost and check while wearing a flashlight headband.
The birds don't fight much at night.

Interesting!!
OK I will not do anything to the coop today, and I will follow your instructions (paper towel test on the roost rod itself & head lamp check a bird) this evening. Any location in particular to peek at on the bird?
Thanks so much!!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Interesting!!
OK I will not do anything to the coop today, and I will follow your instructions (paper towel test on the roost rod itself & head lamp check a bird) this evening. Any location in particular to peek at on the bird?
Thanks so much!!

Checking for lice means a good close look right down to the skin around her vent, under wings and belly areas for any tiny crawling things. If you see white or light grey clumps stuck to the feather shafts near the skin that would be eggs. Mites don't always live ON the bird. Some hide in the nooks and crannies of the coop. For those I run a paper towel along the underside of the roost after they are roosted for the night. It will have red streaks from mites that have fed and grey for squished unfed mites.

^^^from my post earlier in the thread.

 

[BleuSaphir]

That is plenty of space for 4 hens. Was she adopted? Could explain why her beak was trimmed off.

 

[KerryCooks]

I really don't see her beak looking different than the others? Perhaps the photo is misleading...

No, she was not adopted that I know of. But again, I moved in and all 4 hens were here.

 

[KerryCooks]

Checking for lice means a good close look right down to the skin around her vent, under wings and belly areas for any tiny crawling things. If you see white or light grey clumps stuck to the feather shafts near the skin that would be eggs. Mites don't always live ON the bird. Some hide in the nooks and crannies of the coop. For those I run a paper towel along the underside of the roost after they are roosted for the night. It will have red streaks from mites that have fed and grey for squished unfed mites.

^^^from my post earlier in the thread.

So, I did the paper towel trick around 9:30 last night. Nothing was on the paper towel, as I rubbed the entire circumference of the roost rod. Two chickens were on the roost, two were in the nest (to sleep). Bennie (the red one with bumblefoot and missing feathers) was in the nest. When I let them out of their coop this morning, Bennie was also still in that same nest spot. She was sitting on an egg, and got up to go eat a little bit, not limping, but then she seemed to go back to the nest after that. She maybe needed to lay? Unclear...

So what now?

 

[Ascholten]

You could have a bully that is picking on her. I have a RIR I believe she is that is a real witch and loves to pick on anyone that lets her get away with it.

They will peck, they will also pull feathers out too. Sometimes it's a pecking order kerfluffle, or just she's the low man and they pick on her, she walks by and they pull out some feathers. If it's happening, it can kind of invite MORE bullying until she stands up for herself.

Besides separating them, I don't think there is much you can do to alter that behavior.

Molting, each chicken is different. I had one that stopped laying for about a month while she slowly lost feathers and grew new ones. I had one that was down maybe a week and that was it. I had one that I honestly one day thought a hawk got my flock, I walked out and there was this huge pile of feathers there, I was like Oh god no, did a quick count and seen one pretty bald, looked REAL GOOD at her, nope, she's fine, just they dropped out almost all at once! They also molt when they are ready too, there is no set time or season that ive seen.

Aaron