Seven dead hens within 4 hours, not attacked. UPDATE: Teflon Poisoning!

[Morrigan]

They were not with a rooster, just a whole lot of hens- the roosters were kept separate in smaller pens. Can I check for mites without actually catching one?

Not really. Only if an infestation is really, really bad can they be seen on the outside of a hen or crawling around the coop. Best chance is to grab one or two off the roost at night and then check carefully around their vent. If they are mites, you should be able to see tiny, moving black or red specks. If they are lice, you should see clusters of eggs at the base of the feathers. Hopefully you see nothing!

 

[AaronandAlice]

Not really. Only if an infestation is really, really bad can they be seen on the outside of a hen or crawling around the coop. Best chance is to grab one or two off the roost at night and then check carefully around their vent. If they are mites, you should be able to see tiny, moving black or red specks. If they are lice, you should see clusters of eggs at the base of the feathers. Hopefully you see nothing!

I'll keep my glasses on when I go out tonight. It's been so cold they fog right up!

 

[TwoCrows]

I agree with others on this, looks like a wound. Way too much blood for anything else. I am thinking possibly foot pad poke? There is a lot of blood on the lip of the nest box. I would check everybody's pads and claws. Claws can get caught on all kinds of things. Especially those back claws.

Possibly a blood feather is bleeding? This is molting season. With all the excitement and flapping, a wing blood feather could be bleeding.

This is where I would start.

 

[aart]

I'll keep my glasses on when I go out tonight. It's been so cold they fog right up!

Yes, glasses are a must when looking for bugs...mine only fog up when I come back inside.

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

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).

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

Off topic
(I'm new to glasses, fogging is the worst, lasik party anyone?)

 

[AaronandAlice]

So I'm reading to get diatomataceous (sp?) earth and spread it all over?

 

[TwoCrows]

Aside from mites and bugs, bald butts can also stem from birds roosting on ladders, the bird beneath plucks feathers from the butt of the bird above.

SOMETIMES but not always, a bald butt can be an indication of internal laying.

 

[aart]

So I'm reading to get diatomataceous (sp?) earth and spread it all over?

What for?
DE is really only good for keeping grain mites out of feed storage.

If you find you actually have lice or mites on your birds,
permethrin is the ticket....dust in winter or spray in summer.

 

[AaronandAlice]

What for?
DE is really only good for keeping grain mites out of feed storage.

If you find you actually have lice or mites on your birds,
permethrin is the ticket....dust in winter or spray in summer.

Do I need to dust the bird, their bedding, or everything?

 

[AaronandAlice]

I haven’t checked yet btw, just like to have a plan.