Does this look like mites?

[lothomson]

Hey guys,

My SLW hen, Joy, has got torn feathers on her back and I checked her feathers/skin and

found what looked like dirt/sand (maybe). My chickens have never had mites so I don't know if the

stuff is actually sand. I have never seen mites/mite eggs so I may be mistaking this for something else.

Some feathers also seem a little crooked and weird near her neck.

(P.S I don't have rooster so they are not causing the problem here)
(P.S.S she is not molting)

-Lauren



Pics of Joy's back:

 

[yellowthepolish]

could be from dusting? maybe she does have mites and is dusting to get rid of them
doesnt really look like mites to me but ive only had one chicken that had mites and it was a polish tophat

 

[lothomson]

could be from dusting? maybe she does have mites and is dusting to get rid of them
doesnt really look like mites to me but ive only had one chicken that had mites and it was a polish tophat

Hi yellowthepolish,

I was thinking this too.. and she does bathe in an area with wood chips (may explain the tearing), but, my

other hen does the same and her feathers are fine. Does this look like anything other than mites??

I also noticed that the feathers seemed to be only broken on the end in what seems to be

a triangular cut...

 

[yellowthepolish]

the other hen(s) might be peckin on her?

 

[lothomson]

the other hen(s) might be peckin on her?

oh, she is one of two hens and the other is at the top of the pecking order..