Are these mites?

[BunsNChicks]

Are mites white? I saw something on my chickens that look exactly like the dark mites but they are white. Or am I looking at lice? I noticed something odd about my chickens as well...their feathers look encapsulated at the bottom like this picture

 

[sourland]

The picture that you show is of 'blood' or developing feathers on a chicken that is molting. White or tannish, flat parasites are most likely lice.

 

[redsoxs]

Sounds like, as usual, sourland hit the nail on the head.

 

[BunsNChicks]

it's hard to tell if the bug is flat...it is extremely small like a mite but white. Would lice cause crusties on the skin?

 

[sourland]

Lice can cause the skin to develop a crusty texture. They also lay clusters of eggs around the chickens' vents attached to the feather shafts.

 

[BunsNChicks]

oh ok, thanks