A healthy chicken will have bright, clear eyes, clean nostrils, smooth legs and a clean vent (the name for a chicken’s backside!), and it is a good idea to get into the habit of checking your chickens daily for any signs of ill-health.
As preventative measures, we recommend sprinkling the bedding of the nest boxes with louse powder to protect against lice and worming your hens every 4-6 months.
There is one pest in particular that you need to be especially vigilant about and that is red mite. Red mite can live in the cracks and crevices of hen houses, coming out at night to feed on the blood of the birds. Because it is only active at night you are unlikely to spot it on your hens during the day, so signs to watch out for are pale faces and wattles, a lack of energy, decreased egg production and a reluctance to go back into the hen house at night. A light grey ash around the crevices of the house (the mites’ faeces) is also an indicator.
Besides treating the house regularly with a red mite repellent powder, some people advise adding a poultry tonic, e.g. cider vinegar, to the drinking water to provide increased resistance to attack. This is a general health tonic and mineral supplement that is also reputed to increase egg production, and to improve feathering and bone development (please note though, this product should not be used in galvanised drinkers, as it corrodes the metal).
If you do have an infestation of red mite, an immediate and thorough disinfection of the house with a red mite eliminator product will be necessary.