The Chickens are Restless... why?

[Wyorp Rock]

Oh....If you have lots of mosquitoes, that could be it. I run a fan in my coop to stir the air.

 

[MIChickandGuinea]

Hmmm...do you have a neighbor that perhaps has an outdoor light shining in a window?

The only other thing I can think of that might make them move around at night would be mites/lice or a mouse/rat(?) You may want to go out there with a flashlight and shine it on some bums and under wings to see if they have any mites bothering them. (mites only come out at night)

We don’t have any neighbors... large property! It’s a dark night so light is not the issue.
But mites! I will check for that (but not tonight because it’s so late and I am going to sleep).

 

[SurferchickinSB]

We have storms in the area (though not here), and soooooo many mosquitoes. Maybe that’s it.

Maybe staple or sew window screening to the ventilation areas in your coop. That is what I did on every open area of my coop and run, put window screening over the hardware cloth so that flies and mosquitos can't get inside and bother or infect my chickens with disease.

 

[MIChickandGuinea]

Maybe staple or sew window screening to the ventilation areas in your coop. That is what I did on every open area of my coop and run, put window screening over the hardware cloth so that flies and mosquitos can't get inside and bother or infect my chickens with disease.

Our coops are open all day while chickens tootle around yards and fields, so the ladies can come back in to eat, drink, and lay their eggs. Mosquitoes and flies would come in no matter what I did with the windows...

 

[SurferchickinSB]

Our coops are open all day while chickens tootle around yards and fields, so the ladies can come back in to eat, drink, and lay their eggs. Mosquitoes and flies would come in no matter what I did with the windows...

I only let mine out for 2-3 hours in the afternoon and evening supervised because of hawks and I don't leave the door open. that is awesome that yours can be so free I'm just too paranoid

 

[aart]

Mine are a bit restless too, I don't have a cam(wish I did).
I'm getting bothered by noseeums,( I think, cause I can't see um-haha!) and am betting they are too. Strangely not many skeeters, not last year either. The heat/humidity is brutal...older birds were panting at 8am this morning. Supposed to cool off tomorrow.

mites only come out at night

Some mites only come out at night to feed, I can never remember which ones tho.

Here's my bug blurb.
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).

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Some mites only come out at night to feed, I can never remember which ones tho

Pardon me for misspeaking

Red Fowl Mites live off the bird, while Northern Fowl Mites live on the bird. Either way, it's a good idea to inspect birds both during the day and at night.

(Scaly Leg Mites and Depluming mites also live on the bird).

 

[MIChickandGuinea]

I only let mine out for 2-3 hours in the afternoon and evening supervised because of hawks and I don't leave the door open. that is awesome that yours can be so free I'm just too paranoid

We do have some hawks. This winter I rescued a guinea from the claws of a hawk that was struggling to take off with her. Then this early spring, I saw a scene that made me think a hawk (or who knows ... Fox, dog, whatever) had made odd with another guinea. But the chickens stay close to the house and in the margins of forest and under shade trees. I know I will lose one some day ... but they loooooooove their outside time so much. I guess I am prioritizing quality of life over length of life? I don’t know. I just know how adorable they are doing their happy chicken things out in the yard.

 

[MIChickandGuinea]

OK. Do I need to examine every single bird? Or representatives from each coop? I have looked at a few from the main and a few from bantams, and for the daytime bugs, I saw absolutely zero.

Roosts are painted white ... would I see those ones that you said I would catch by wiping a rag on the undersides of roosts?

 

[aart]

OK. Do I need to examine every single bird? Or representatives from each coop? I have looked at a few from the main and a few from bantams, and for the daytime bugs, I saw absolutely zero.

Roosts are painted white ... would I see those ones that you said I would catch by wiping a rag on the undersides of roosts?

I look at every bird, unless I find a bug, then I stop and treat them all.
I look at night with a bright headlight, easier for me to catch and to see.
I would wipe undersides anyway, they may flee out of sight at your light.