Night stomping

[Captron911]

I have three different breeds of chickens, all hens about 18 weeks old. I have a camera with audio in the coop and recently noticed that two or three of the ISA Browns take turns stomping ( just one stomp) about every 30 seconds on the perch at night. I used 2x3’s for perches. Does anyone know why they do this?

 

[Tired old Rooster]

Unless they are Irish, I have no idea why they would do that. Do they roost right alongside one another? Perhaps something is disturbing them on the roost.

 

[Captron911]

They aren’t next to each other. There are others in between them.

 

[aart]

Could be bugs...roost mites come out at night to feed.


Have you checked 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).

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