Daytime Napping: Why Your Chicken Sleeps All Day

If your chicken is sleeping all day, it could be due to a variety of reasons. Chickens are creatures of habit and usually roost between dusk and dawn. However, if they start sleeping for extended periods during the day, it could be due to a lack of nighttime sleep, intestinal parasites, depression, or boredom. Other possible causes include feather moult, mite infestation, worms, or respiratory issues. If your chicken seems lethargic and unhealthy, it is best to consult a veterinarian to rule out any illnesses or infections.

Intestinal parasites

There are several types of intestinal parasites that can affect your chickens, including tapeworms, threadworms, and roundworms. These parasites live in the intestinal lining and cause inflammation of the intestines (enteritis) and mucus. Roundworms, in particular, can cause severe damage, especially to young birds. Large numbers of roundworms can interfere with feed absorption, leading to poor growth and egg production. In severe cases, they can even cause intestinal blockage and death.

Another common intestinal parasite is the cecal worm. While it rarely causes problems in chickens, it is important to note that it can carry a deadly disease called blackhead, which affects turkeys. Therefore, it is crucial to keep chickens and turkeys separate to prevent the spread of this disease.

Small roundworms are another type of intestinal parasite that infects the intestines, causing thickening of the intestinal walls and haemorrhage, resulting in poor feed absorption and growth. Tapeworms are also common, but they require an intermediate host, such as snails, slugs, or earthworms, to be transmitted.

To prevent and control intestinal parasites in your flock, proper management of diet, sanitation, and treatment are essential. Chickens need a proper diet, including an adequate supply of vitamins A and B complex. A deficiency in these vitamins can increase their susceptibility to parasites.

• Thoroughly remove litter between flocks.
• Keep the litter as dry as possible.
• Keep wild birds, pigeons, and other birds away from your chickens, as they may be infected and spread worm eggs.
• Provide adequate drainage of ranges and move shelters frequently to reduce droppings accumulation.
• Keep birds off freshly ploughed ground, where they are more likely to ingest infected earthworms and insects.
• Use insecticides to control insect populations.

If you suspect your chicken has intestinal parasites, consult a veterinarian. They can determine the specific type of parasite and recommend appropriate treatment.

Depression or boredom

Chickens are intelligent creatures that require mental stimulation to stay happy and healthy. If your chicken is sleeping all day, it could be a sign of depression or boredom. Chickens need to be entertained or challenged to keep them busy and prevent them from getting into mischief.

To address this issue, you can make some adjustments to their environment and daily routine:

• Ensure the coop and run size are large enough so that the chickens have sufficient space and are not overcrowded.
• Provide enough dust baths, as chickens enjoy spending time in the dust, and it is also a social activity for them.
• Make your chickens 'work' for their food by hiding snacks in the dirt or spreading them around the run. You can also create a cabbage or lettuce piñata for them to jump and reach the treats.
• Provide various chicken toys, such as ladders, swings, and food balls. However, chickens can also be entertained with simple things like space, companionship, dust baths, and food.

If your chicken continues to sleep excessively during the day, it may be a good idea to consult a veterinarian to rule out any underlying health issues.

Illness

If your chicken is sleeping all day, it could be a sign of illness. Unexplained lethargy should be investigated by a veterinary professional, but in the meantime, you can perform a health check to look for any signs of illness, infestation, or stress.

Some common illnesses that can cause lethargy in chickens include:

• Chronic respiratory disease
• Coccidiosis
• Blackhead disease
• Intestinal parasites such as tapeworms, threadworms, and roundworms
• Eggbound, which occurs when a hen has an egg stuck in her oviduct

If your chicken is showing any other symptoms such as loss of appetite, changes in droppings, breathing difficulties, coughing or sneezing, colour changes to her comb or wattles, changes in egg-laying patterns, changes in movement, or discharges from her eyes, nose, or mouth, it is important to consult a veterinarian.

To rule out internal parasites and worms, you can check your chicken's droppings or take a sample to the vet for a faecal exam. Droppings should not be bloody, liquid, or yellow. If you notice these symptoms and your chicken also looks pale, has lost weight, or has ruffled feathers, it is best to take your chicken to the vet.

Mite or lice infestation

Mites and poultry lice are a common problem for chickens that spend time outdoors. They are typically brought into chicken yards by wild birds and other animals, so their presence does not necessarily indicate an unclean coop. However, mite and lice infestations can have devastating consequences for chickens, so it is important to be able to recognise the signs and know how to treat them.

Signs of Mite or Lice Infestation

Common signs of a mite or lice infestation in a chicken include:

• Dirty-looking vent feathers
• Decreased activity or listlessness
• Pale comb
• Changes in appetite
• Drop in egg production
• Weight loss
• Feather-pulling
• Bald spots
• Redness or scabs on the skin
• Dull, ragged-looking feathers
• Crawling bugs on a chicken's skin or nits on feathers

Treating Mites and Lice

If you suspect an infestation, you should thoroughly examine your chickens and coop for any signs of these parasites and start treatment immediately. When lice or mites are found on one bird, the entire flock and coop must be treated. There are various products available to treat lice and mites, including:

• Elector PSP
• Ivermectin
• Permethrin
• Davis Pure Planet Poultry Spray
• Garden & Poultry Dust with Permethrin
• Prozap Garden & Poultry Dust
• Dog flea dips
• Flea shampoos (for temporary relief only)

Preventing Mite and Lice Infestations

To prevent mites and lice from infesting your chickens, you can take the following measures:

• Keep wild birds away from your property
• Secure chicken feed to prevent visits from parasite-carrying wildlife
• Quarantine new birds for at least 14 days before introducing them to an existing flock
• Provide adequate dusting areas for chickens to care for their skin and feathers
• Clean coops regularly, disposing of loose feathers that may carry hatching eggs (nits)

Heatwave

During a heatwave, chickens will naturally seek out shade and rest, and they may sleep more during the day. This is a normal response to the heat, and there is no need to worry unless they seem unhealthy or scrappy. However, if the temperature rises above 29 degrees Celsius, chickens can suffer from heat stress, which can be fatal. Symptoms of heat stress include:

• Panting and rapid breathing
• Pale combs and wattles
• Outstretched wings and erect feathers
• Decreased appetite and increased water consumption
• Diarrhea
• Decrease in egg production
• Droopiness and lethargy

To prevent heat stress in chickens during a heatwave, there are several measures you can take:

• Provide an ample supply of cool, clean water. Adding ice to the water can help keep it cool, but avoid using too much ice as it can be a shock to the body.
• Ensure proper airflow and ventilation in the chicken coop. A gap at the top of the coop can help remove trapped heat.
• Check the coop flooring—metal mesh flooring can get very hot, so it should be kept under shade on hot days.
• Provide heat stress supplements to help your chickens cope with the heat.
• Allow your chickens to free-range so they can find cooler areas.
• Lower perch heights and nesting boxes to ground level, as hot air rises.
• Reduce the ground temperature by misting the area or wetting the ground with a hose.
• Provide shade, such as trees, tarpaulins, shade cloth, or umbrellas.
• Hose down the coop roof and perimeter to lower the ambient temperature.
• Provide dust bathing areas with dampened and cooled dirt so they can regulate their body temperature.

Frequently asked questions