are we dealing with mites?

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

My husband noticed that our rooster's tail feathers are looking a bit off and suspects we are dealing with some sort of feather mites. I'm inclined to think that any ruffled-looking feathers are simply due to our guy being in the final stages of finishing up his molt. What do you all think?

 

[Cragg Klefor]

If you are dealing with feather mites you will see clumps around the shaft of the feathers. If the feather shafts are clean I suspect you are correct - just ruffled feathers. Feel free to post photo of feather shafts!

 

[Anaray]

Could it also be that his tail is rubbing against a wall? I probably have to move my roost because of my this. Plenty of room for the girls, but he's a big boy...

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Could it also be that his tail is rubbing against a wall? I probably have to move my roost because of my this. Plenty of room for the girls, but he's a big boy...

Yes I'm sure that's a possibility! I would go ahead and check his feather shafts for his own good just in case. But yes, IMO feather friction could be the cause.

 

[rebrascora]

I think it is unlikely to be abrasion damage because the feathers affected are not ones that are particularly exposed and vulnerable, it looks to be largely saddle feathers that are damaged. I would have expected sickle feathers to be showing wear if it was due to rubbing on the coop wall etc.
Depluming mites are microscopic and I don't believe there is any way to see them other than the damage they cause and I think your husband may be correct that this is the cause. I have not seen moulting feathers look like this.
Pour on Ivermectin to the skin at the back of the neck would be the way to treat depluming mites.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

I think it is unlikely to be abrasion damage because the feathers affected are not ones that are particularly exposed and vulnerable, it looks to be largely saddle feathers that are damaged. I would have expected sickle feathers to be showing wear if it was due to rubbing on the coop wall etc.
Depluming mites are microscopic and I don't believe there is any way to see them other than the damage they cause and I think your husband may be correct that this is the cause. I have not seen moulting feathers look like this.
Pour on Ivermectin to the skin at the back of the neck would be the way to treat depluming mites.

Don't deplumbing mites cause irritation to skin at base of feathers - sometimes oozing clear liquid and a crusty substance on the skin?? Along with broken and/or unkept feathers?

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

Thanks all for the ideas!

I treated with pour-on ivermectin about a month ago as one of our hens appears to have depluming mites, so we treated the entire flock. The first time around I didn't realize that the ivermectin needs to go on the skin so I just put it on their neck feathers, which apparently didn't do anything. Once I found out, I treated again a day or two later and really made sure it got on the skin.

I will check Peter's skin tonight to make sure the feather shafts look OK.

And, I don't think this is abrasion damage. Our roosts are attached at an angle and the spot where Peter roosts is far enough from the wall that his tail does not come in contact with it.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

Thanks all for the ideas!

I treated with pour-on ivermectin about a month ago as one of our hens appears to have depluming mites, so we treated the entire flock. The first time around I didn't realize that the ivermectin needs to go on the skin so I just put it on their neck feathers, which apparently didn't do anything. Once I found out, I treated again a day or two later and really made sure it got on the skin.

I will check Peter's skin tonight to make sure the feather shafts look OK.

And, I don't think this is abrasion damage. Our roosts are attached at an angle and the spot where Peter roosts is far enough from the wall that his tail does not come in contact with it.

Just to ask, did you treat the rooster based on his weight? I'm wondering if he happened to be underdosed. Just a thought!

 

[NewFlockOnTheBlock]

I did adjust Peter's dose based on his weight, although, to be honest, I eyeballed it. I probably gave him about 1.5 ml while most of the hens received the standard 1 ml dose, and some of our larger hens received between 1.25 and 1.5 ml.

 

[rebrascora]

I am wondering if it would need a follow up dose to deal with any eggs that hatched after treatment. I have not dealt with depluming mites myself but just read about them, so not sure if the systemic ivermectin would kill eggs or larvae as they hatched or if it would be out of the bird's system by the time eggs hatched and need retreatment.