Ring around the egg?

[CaptainSamH]

Cool, let's talk parasites and roosting/sleeping chickens. How much of this variety of symptoms in different chickens could be explained by parasites? Also, im always sensitive to euatle arou d on the coop at night because I don't want to wake them, but is that silly? If I disturb them to check will they just go back to sleep? Also, what would I be looking for? Will I actually be able to see bugs crawling on them? On their legs? Sorry to bombard you, but you've been a great source of of info already and I'm kind of flying solo over here...so many thanks!

 

[CaptainSamH]

Cool, let's talk parasites and roosting/sleeping chickens. How much of this variety of symptoms in different chickens could be explained by parasites? Also, im always sensitive to euatle arou d on the coop at night because I don't want to wake them, but is that silly? If I disturb them to check will they just go back to sleep? Also, what would I be looking for? Will I actually be able to see bugs crawling on them? On their legs? Sorry to bombard you, but you've been a great source of of info already and I'm kind of flying solo over here...so many thanks!

Oops, meant to write that "I'm sensitive to RUSTLE around the coop at night"...

 

[aart]

About the only time I examine my birds is off the roost at night.

My Bug check notes:

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).

 

[jolenesdad]

Oops, meant to write that "I'm sensitive to RUSTLE around the coop at night"...

I bet @aart has something bookmarked to share here.

In general it’s less invasive to handle the birds at night.

 

[jolenesdad]

About the only time I examine my birds is off the roost at night.

My Bug check notes:

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).

told ya.

 

[CaptainSamH]

told ya.

Lol. So I started looking last night, nothing under the roost bar.
Will Google some more images...Thanks guys!

 

[CaptainSamH]

At the moment, I have 5 pullets with food color paste on/in their vents, a different color for each bird. Hopefully I will be able to ID who laid what and where by matching color on egg with vent color. I'm just trying to figure out who is laying the pinkish egg with purple spots.

This sounds brilliant....any Intel so far?Cause I might try this... how did you make the paste (especially so the other birds don't help themselves to it)?

 

[tn_artist]

This sounds brilliant....any Intel so far?Cause I might try this... how did you make the paste (especially so the other birds don't help themselves to it)?

I used paste dye that I had from a cake decorating class. They have it at Walmart and hobby lobby, in the cake decorating areas. I applied it to the vent with cotton swabs, but will have to do it again. Only one laid that showed any color. Instead of on the vent, I'm going to have to try IN the vent, although my children say,"won't they just poop it out?. I may have to use lipstick. It may stay on better. Going to go check nests right now. We haven't been home most of the day.
Added: nine eggs, no dye color. Yesterday had proof of one layer with black dye.

 

[jolenesdad]

I used paste dye that I had from a cake decorating class. They have it at Walmart and hobby lobby, in the cake decorating areas. I applied it to the vent with cotton swabs, but will have to do it again. Only one laid that showed any color. Instead of on the vent, I'm going to have to try IN the vent, although my children say,"won't they just poop it out?. I may have to use lipstick. It may stay on better. Going to go check nests right now. We haven't been home most of the day.
Added: nine eggs, no dye color. Yesterday had proof of one layer with black dye.

I read someone doing this once that said it’s fairly difficult to see and you have to try different lights and really look closely. Maybe worth a second peek?

 

[tn_artist]

I read someone doing this once that said it’s fairly difficult to see and you have to try different lights and really look closely. Maybe worth a second peek?

This is the only one that had anything on it, a tiny smear of black. Shown with the one who laid it, little Firefly. Didn't get one of the pink and purple eggs yesterday, but did today. Will try again soon. Have to do the Mommy thing and the teacher thing again this week.