kagarris
Chirping
I've got 80 sq ft of covered run plus 16 sq ft in the coop. Hens have been very happy in the coop until lately. I really don't think they are over crowded. I have not seen any pecking issues at all. A few weeks ago they stopped roosting and started sleeping on the floor of the coop all huddled at the door. Poop on the eggs was one clue. Per blogs I read, I decided there must be mites in the coop. There was no ammonia odor. They still went up into the nests and laid eggs. They just wouldn't roost. Although I did not see any mites, I completely cleaned out the coop and oiled perches and even spread some diamatoceous earth (DE) up there. Then I put new pine shavings in on top of the DE. I even added herbs to their nest boxes. That seemed to please them and they went back to roosting. They never stopped laying.
And now they stopped going up into the coop and they've stopped laying. I tried herding them up there, which is no small feat, and shut the door to lock them in. I checked them later and they were huddled at the door on the floor instead of roosting. I thought that might be more stressful than just leaving them alone so I didn't herd them more than once. I did try coaxing them with treats and only 3 of them ventured up, ate treats, and went back down.
They are just over 6 months old now. They've been laying for about a month averaging 5-6 eggs a day. Short days up here in the Pacific Northwest so the number is not surprising to me for young hens. I talked to a friend who thought it might be mites and told me to check the base of their feathers. I looked and do not see any mites or critters crawling on them. Their legs look healthy and smooth, no sign of mites there. They look healthy overall. I feed them probiotics in their water and Purina Layena Medicated. Geeze, I'm doing everything I know to keep them healthy. I know there is something wrong and I don't know what to try next.
I give them about two tablespoons of mealworms or treats specifically marketed for chickens (less when they were chicks) every day. I don't think two tablespoons for nine chickens sounds like more than 10% of their diet. Though, I know animals are not stupid. I had a dog once that decided she didn't want her dinner unless it had broth poured over it. We had to let her starve a few days before she would eat plain dry food. I'm thinking that may be what is happening with my chickens. Could they be starving themselves all day waiting for me to bring them treats in the afternoon? That would mean they are not getting the nutrition they need to produce eggs. That doesn't explain why they won't roost.
I've read blogs and blogs and blogs til I'm at my wit's end. Clearly, something is making my ladies very unhappy.
Does anyone have a suggestion what I should do next?
And now they stopped going up into the coop and they've stopped laying. I tried herding them up there, which is no small feat, and shut the door to lock them in. I checked them later and they were huddled at the door on the floor instead of roosting. I thought that might be more stressful than just leaving them alone so I didn't herd them more than once. I did try coaxing them with treats and only 3 of them ventured up, ate treats, and went back down.
They are just over 6 months old now. They've been laying for about a month averaging 5-6 eggs a day. Short days up here in the Pacific Northwest so the number is not surprising to me for young hens. I talked to a friend who thought it might be mites and told me to check the base of their feathers. I looked and do not see any mites or critters crawling on them. Their legs look healthy and smooth, no sign of mites there. They look healthy overall. I feed them probiotics in their water and Purina Layena Medicated. Geeze, I'm doing everything I know to keep them healthy. I know there is something wrong and I don't know what to try next.
I give them about two tablespoons of mealworms or treats specifically marketed for chickens (less when they were chicks) every day. I don't think two tablespoons for nine chickens sounds like more than 10% of their diet. Though, I know animals are not stupid. I had a dog once that decided she didn't want her dinner unless it had broth poured over it. We had to let her starve a few days before she would eat plain dry food. I'm thinking that may be what is happening with my chickens. Could they be starving themselves all day waiting for me to bring them treats in the afternoon? That would mean they are not getting the nutrition they need to produce eggs. That doesn't explain why they won't roost.
I've read blogs and blogs and blogs til I'm at my wit's end. Clearly, something is making my ladies very unhappy.
Does anyone have a suggestion what I should do next?
All great advice by 
because we live in a very forested area. Coyotes, owls, hawks, coons, neighboring cats, etc. We tried to consider them all. The coop is very near my Mom's window and she hasn't heard any ruckus. Wouldn't they screech and holler if a predator was scratching? I don't see evidence of that though. I doubt predators can get in. The coop/run is sitting on CBS blocks, 2x4 construction and completely closed in with wire mesh. The mesh is what I've always called rabbit wire. It has 3/8 (or maybe 1/2) inch squares, much smaller than chicken wire. Any snake small enough to fit through it would probably be devoured in moments!
