Why is my chicken itching?

If you have an itchy chicken, or a chicken that is scratching you could have a potential lice or mite infestation.  Both poultry lice and northern fowl mite live on the chicken so it pays to be vigilant. Check your chickens for signs of Northern Fowl Mite or Lice – particularly in the fluff of the vent area. These will look like little black critters and their eggs will appear white, you may spot these at the base of the feathers. Check the housing, especially nooks, crannies and roosting bars for signs of Red Mite or their faeces. Red mite deposits can look like a grey ash in the corners of the housing.