[knightquest]

There is a white dandruff/scurf type of 'stuff' over the droppings in the coop. I've got a picture below. Any ideas?



It is a bit flaky and egg production is low.

Ian

[robert waddell]

possibly you know this already but it looks a while since they were cleaned out     just an observation

[deepinthewoods]

its mouldy.

[plumseverywhere]

You mean the white flaky bits don't you Ian? Mine sometimes get that, not sure it is dead skin shedding off legs maybe?

[little blue]

I always understood the brown stuff is poo, and the white bits are urine... not sure where I heard that?!
I don't think its anything to worry about knightquest...

[Fleecewife]

   I can see droppings both brown and white (yes the white is urea which in mammals would be liquid urine).  I can also see bits of broken feathers and scales. 

First, as Robert says, you need to keep them cleaned out more frequently - it's difficult at this time of year because they are indoors so much that most of their droppings land in the house under the perch, rather than outdoors, so they need to be cleaned out more often than in the height of summer.  The smell of ammonia will build up rapidly and affects the birds, so don't let it get to that stage if you can help it.

Secondly - are they moulting?  That could explain the white debris, but I would also check closely that they don't have any parasites such as scaley leg mites, lice, red mites and so on, and obviously treat them for that and give the house a thorough clean.  The debris might just be bits of feather and scale, but it could also be a sign that they are preening far more vigorously than normal while on their perch as a result of a parasite.  There's no harm in giving them all a good spring clean at this time of year - the hens that is  . 

Egg production will be low at this time of year because of the short days, but it should start to pick up in a couple of weeks (I hope it does anyway as we have a lot of hens but hardly any eggs  )

[Womble]

Er, thanks for that!!   

The dandruff stuff is what sheds from around new feathers when they're growing in - nothing to worry about. If you want to check that, look closely at the base of the feathers of the birds who have been through the molt, just where they're starting to grow back, and you'll see the 'dandruff' on them.

[chrismahon]

Afraid I'm not as tactful as the other replies Ian. That is the most disgusting state of a coop I have ever seen.

The flakey 'dandruff' bits are feather sheaths, which enclose the new feathers as they emerge. As they get longer the sheath dries out and the chickens crush them off when preening and open out the new feather. So they have stopped laying because they are moulting and need all their feed intake to grow new feathers.

[Dizzycow]

Seriously, my coop looks like that the day after I clean it, poopy little buggers that they are! 

Mine also have what you're referring to as dandruff, but on closer inspection it seems to be tiny feathers which must come out when they groom themselves. No? Oooppss, you just said that, Chris and Womble. Must pay more attention. Hey ho.

As per an earlier thread, the chicken poo seems to vary regularly, from big and bulky to pale and frothy. I reckon that as long as they are well cared for and regularly treated for worms we can't go too far wrong, can we?

Liking the urea info, Fleecewife. Oracle that you are. 

[jaykay]

Chris, calm down. That heap could be after one night under a perch.

[Dizzycow]

If you think that's bad you should see my daughters' pants.

[little blue]

If you think that's bad you should see my daughters' pants.

thanks .... but .... no thanks!!
Ian, hope you've checked out the thread about honesty-is-the-best-policy-cleaning out....

[Dizzycow]

Heh heh. And ditto.

[knightquest]

Thanks for the replies guys.

I should say that this is a very close up shot and was taken the day after their second cleanout of the week.

The coop has a thorough wash down every Sunday with disinfectant and a scrubbing brush followed by a good dousing with diatom. The poo is collected up every Wed/Thursday too.

I have 6 chickens in a 6' x 4' converted dog kennel with white speckled tiles on the floor so the scrubbing is easier. There is no redmite as the coop is creosoted and diatomed but I haven't checked for other mites as yet.

They are going through a moult so that could explain the feather aspect. My reason for posting is that the white 'bits' seemed to occur overnight and as this is my first full year with the wee beasties, I wanted to make sure.

Thanks again for the replies. Off to hunt for scaly leg mites tomorrow.

Ian

[chrismahon]

Benzol Benzoate for scaley leg mites Ian. The cheapest stuff I've ever bought from the vets and usually works with one brush-on application -just in case you were thinking of WD40 or something.

Apologies for comment about your filthy coop. I didn't realise birds could poo that much in such a short space of time. Do you compost the poo and feed the veggy plot?