no eggs and flaky 'stuff' following mite break out - any ideas?

[thatfiftiesgirl]

Hi all,
I have two chooks (about two years old, unidentified breed but they came from the kinder hatching program and are very sturdy, black, somewhat fierce, and were great layers).

Recently they had quite a bad mite attack which I have sorted out but since then they have stopped laying and I have noticed a lot of small flakes of whitish 'stuff' where they roost. (It looks a little like flakes from whatever the central part of a feather is made from). They seem otherwise happy - eating , pooping, all the normal stuff.

Now the longest night has just passed here in Melbourne, Australia. Am I worrying unnecessarily, and my chooks are just chillin' out waiting for some lighter days, or should I be concerned?

I would welcome your comments!!
Thanks.

 

[pipermark]

Stress of any kind often will make chickens stop laying, natures way of conserving energy. Give them a little time, they should get back to normal.

Do keep an eye on them though, parasite attacks weaken the animals which make them more susceptible to virus, bacteria and other parasites.

You might give them some liquid electrolytes , the kind mom would buy for a human baby, usually found at your local food store.

 

[thatfiftiesgirl]

Thanks for your help - I'll give the electrolytes a go,
j