Hi it looks like our hens have started to sleep outside on top of their coop, any ideas?

Also, how long do hens live for? i have some battery hens which are around about 3yrs old

juliex

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Hi,they will be more vulnerable to being taken by foxes/minks etc,than if they were shut away,no idea on lifespan though

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(formally clare7577)

starting to think redmite?
one of them today was not eating any food but she was drinking,,

juliex

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Could well be red mites - have you any signs of rats? That will put them off sometimes.
From experience, 3 years is good going for battery hens, as they can be so traumatised - our oldest chicken is currently about 7, but I've had one who died at 11 and another who was at least 9 and blind for a year before she died, but the others looked after her - very sweet!

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Anni



If you think dogs can't count, try putting three dog biscuits in your pocket and then give him only two of them-Phil Pastoret

www.webury.com - my job.

If you catch one of the hens, part her feathers & see if you can see the mites? Ours stopped going in their coup when we had an infestation. You could see them in the hen house too, I can't remember what we bought, to get rid of them, it was quite expensive, but it did work. The foxes will definitely have them if they aren't shut up, beware!

cheers for that , i will have a look at the in the morning and see if i can see anything...we have had them now for the last 3 years..not lost one yet...probably could be the hound dogs , i think it is them thats keeping the foxes away..we have had one or two eggs stolen, i am presuming by rats marvelous how they do it though!!

juliex

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Got them sorted, they are now back to sleeping inside, it was red mite xx we give the coop a good scrub out witth jeyes fluid and then sprayed everywhere with red mite spray and also removed the felt of the top of the nest box as this is where they like to live

juliex

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hi what is redmite ?? and can ducks get it ??