Do my chicks have mites?

[LauraMC]

Hi! I have a few day-old Isa Brown chicks who seem perfectly happy apart from preening quite alot? Especially around their wings and chest. They were hatched in an incubator and are in their brooder now with straw bedding. Both eating and drinking really well.
Ive inspected them closely and cant see anything on them. Could it be mites or am I just being paranoid?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

If they were to have mites you will be able to see them crawling. I've had broody hatched chicks with mites but never those hatched by an incubator but it's always possible. All chicks preen. They are rapidly growing in feathers and I'm sure they are feeling it.

 

[aart]

Probably paranoid......not probable but possible mites could come in with straw if straw was stored where it could be been infested.
Look closely at chicks for bugs.....do not treat unless you see bugs.

 

[LauraMC]

Thank you all for the advice!! I’ll keep a close eye on them to see if anything develops but I agree at this stage they’re just growing out their feathers