Chicken care: Managing egg production and parasite detection

Backyard poultry owners facing a drop in egg production should distinguish between environmental factors and health issues. If chickens have garden access, they may simply be laying in hidden locations such as under hedges or behind woodpiles rather than in designated nesting boxes. To encourage a return to the coop, placing a fake egg in the nesting box can serve as a behavioral cue to redirect them.

However, a decline in laying can also indicate health problems like red mites (Dermanyssus gallinae). These nocturnal parasites hide in wooden crevices and perches during the day, emerging at night to feed on blood. Signs of a mite infestation include chickens refusing to enter the coop at dusk, agitation on perches, lethargy, weight loss, and pale combs due to anemia. Other natural causes for reduced laying include molting, brooding, or seasonal changes.