Our chickens have a walk-in run with a roof, a bit like a shed with wire walls, on concrete. They roost in a box on legs at the back, have done so for a few years quite happily. They put themselves to bed as the run is fully fox proof (weld mesh etc).
We've only 2 of the original 4 girls left. One of them has taken to flying up onto the roof of the roost and sleeping there, leaving her friend alone in the roost. It's annoying because she dirties the roof (which I use as a shelf for useful poultry stuff, straw etc), also it's b****y freezing, so I've been popping her in at night after dusk.
Now, they've both started doing it.
I wondered about red spider mite, as avoiding the roost is supposed to be a sign? I've never had it, can't see it now, have checked with a bit of white paper wiping around, given the birdies a good rummage in their feathers poor things, nothing. The box which is wooden is always dusted liberally with DE, and when I clean out I spray with poultry shield.
Am I being over-anxious? Can you even get red spider mite in sub-zero temps? I certainly don't want to clean out and spray their roost in these freezing temps.
Am thinking of clipping her wings to stop problem.
Any thoughts, please kind A4A people?
