Are these red mites?

[NFLchicks]

Hey guys! I was refilling one of the PVC feeders in my chicken run this afternoon and realized (after carrying it all the way across the yard against my body - UGH) that it was covered in tiny reddish brown moving specks. Are these the bad kind of mites that suck the blood from chickens? I live in North Florida and this happened in the middle of the day, if that helps. First time chicken owner, I have 8 chicks that are 10-11 weeks old and have been using the deep litter method in my (hugely overbuilt and stationary) chicken tractor. Help???

 

[ChickNanny13]

You may want to update your profile with your location, although you did mention it in your post, saves having to with every post & tagging in your area saves time.

Looks like it to me ... Have you checked your birds?
You're going to have to do some serious treatment ... Permethrin spray for the coop, nest boxes, building & Poultry Dust for your flock ... Burn all shavings/nesting material, spray their coop ... Replace the shavings and respray in 7 - 14 days for hatching eggs.
I'm not sure Permethrin is the right product ... Need to ask the experienced in your time zone ....

@coach723 @dawg53 @Farmer Connie @Wyorp Rock
Thanking all in advance.

 

[dawg53]

They're not red chicken mites, your chickens would be infested with them and you'd know it.
Other than that, I hope you're not using the deep litter method INSIDE your coop. Here where we live, you need to keep everything as dry as possible when it comes to chicken keeping. Sand is your friend.
BTW; are those Light Brahmas? I have several of them, friendly birds to have but messy.

 

[NFLchicks]

Thank you ChickNanny13, I just updated my profile with my location! I went out after dark last night and looked into the next box where they were sleeping and did not see any obvious mites crawling on the chicks or on the wood but I will go out again tonight and do an actual mite check on the birds (I read that these mites come out at night to feed?).

I will definitely do the serious treatment on the coop and birds if they are chicken mites. I got the coop used from my employer at a farm I work at because she was no longer using it for her chickens. I know for a fact that it has been empty for 2 years and I pressure washed it but I wonder if some mites survived...

 

[NFLchicks]

Thanks dawg53! I really hope they are not red chicken mites.

I'm glad you brought that up! I have a chicken tractor that is open on three sides and the nest boxes make a "wall" on the fourth side. So I'm not sure when I am reading things if I should be following the advice for coops or the advice for a run since mine is a hybrid of both.

Yes I have 3 light brahmas and 5 appenzeller spitzhaubens! They were all supposed to be light brahmas but there was a mix-up at tractor supply and I had no idea how to tell the difference at the time. Unfortunately 6 out of 8 chicks look like cockerels to me - I am going to get some good close-up pictures of them soon and post.

 

[ChickNanny13]

Glad I was wrong and we got "expert" advice

 

[dawg53]

@NFLchicks It's always good to pick up your birds once a month and inspect them for lice and/or mites.
This information is for future reference:
Lice are white or off white in color and move quickly through fluff and feathers. It's sometimes possible to see lice eggs attached to the base of feather shafts. Birds scratch themselves frequently as well as continuous dust bathing along with excessive preening, or even feather picking due to severe irritation caused by the lice.

Mites are a serious problem, including red mites. Red mites carry spirochetes which can infect chickens.
Mites look like black or red pepper, move slowly or not at all. They suck blood and can cause anemia, then death.
Both lice and mites prefer warm/moist areas on birds, particularly the vent area. The vent area is the best place to closely inspect for external parasites.
The treatment I recommend for birds are Permethrin dusting powder or Permethrin concentrated liquid. Inside coops, nest boxes and roosts must be treated as well.
Here's a link with pics.
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig140