I raise Serama bantams and I had 4 babies hatch for a friend who wants them. Within 48 hours, all chicks were dead and the only sign was a bit of blood around the nostrils. But when I picked one up, I saw a few mites crawling. I fight them all the time and I thought that problem was under control. I even looked for mite occasionally in her nest. So it wasn't like an infestation but just a few.
After thinking it over, I have a feeling those mites were going inside the nostrils to feed, leaving a bit of blood at the opening. Can this happen? Anybody ever heard of mites killing chicks this way, causing anemia? The chicks were fine until yesterday I noticed one was feeling bad. Then this morning all dead. We are heartbroken (including the mama hen).
Thank you for any input on this.
pslane
After thinking it over, I have a feeling those mites were going inside the nostrils to feed, leaving a bit of blood at the opening. Can this happen? Anybody ever heard of mites killing chicks this way, causing anemia? The chicks were fine until yesterday I noticed one was feeling bad. Then this morning all dead. We are heartbroken (including the mama hen).
Thank you for any input on this.
pslane