Feather mite?

[PotassiumJunkie]

I’ve noticed one of my hens tail feathers and some wing feathers have become like the photo I’ve attached. There are also brown flecks in the barbs. Other hen is okay but has brown flecks in the barbs of her tail feathers also

I’ve googled photos of feather mite though and doesn’t look like the photos, nothing else unusual to report other than what I’ve said.

One hen is missing breast feathers but they’ve been molting in patches this year...so I assumed it was that...but on closer inspection they look like the attached photo

If it is feather mite, what is the treatment? And also, is feather mite the same as Northern Fowl mite?

 

[pawprint2104]

I have a similar issue. My Plymouth Rock has had numerous health issues (she was a rescued hen). Last week, I saw her with a "down tail" and picking at her feathers. I quarantined her briefly, and tonight I examined her. I found teeny tiny beige mites(?) attached to the base of her lower chest feathers. They were super tiny, flat, but the size of a piece of coarse ground pepper. And, a bunch of black specks on her skin, which I presume is mite poop. They moved when I shined a light on them.

What types of bugs might (mite...lol) they be?

Thank you for any and all advice.

I tried to take a photo, but they are to tiny.

 

[pawprint2104]

Oh, and I noticed many of her chest/brood feathers are broken/cut.

 

[pawprint2104]

Oops, I should say it's not her tail or wing feathers. It's her breast feathers. Is it possible it's the same thing?

 

[pawprint2104]

Here's a photo

 

[pawprint2104]

I checked her again. I use DE in their coop. She still has tiny flat beige crawlies at the very base of her feathers. I checked her coop mates, and they have no sign of the bugs.

Is it possible for one hen to be more susceptible to mites and lice?

I quarantined her. My plan is to apply spray pyrethrins 3 times in 7 day increments. Does anyone have any advice for me, please?

 

[pawprint2104]

Just wondering if this post is even working...

 

[Ihavesomechickens]

It seems like your thread got sucked into the black hole of BYC.
@PotassiumJunkie how is she doing? Did it get better at all?
@pawprint2104 Im sorry no one replied to any of your posts. Diatomaceous Earth works poorly in treating mites. It also can hurt the poultry’s lungs if they breath it in for too long, so I wouldn’t use it in the future. It seems you got the situation under control thankfully. Did it work?

 

[zooinmypocket]

Permethrin helps if you start to notice an infestation on your other hens. https://www.amazon.com/CHEMTECH-BC6...N52VTGF9AF&psc=1&refRID=7ZMDZJD032ZTZ2A9ZXAT#
This is a powder you can use on the chickens and bedding.
https://www.amazon.com/Control-Solutions-Permethrin-Multi-Purpose-Insecticide/dp/B00061MSS0
Is a liquid version for spraying on chickens and their surrounding areas. Its also safe to use on dogs BTW.

I checked her again. I use DE in their coop. She still has tiny flat beige crawlies at the very base of her feathers. I checked her coop mates, and they have no sign of the bugs.

Is it possible for one hen to be more susceptible to mites and lice?

I quarantined her. My plan is to apply spray pyrethrins 3 times in 7 day increments. Does anyone have any advice for me, please?

DE is more of a preventative and the permethrin will help in a few days. Don't forget to clean coop thoroughly with soap like dawn if possible at the same time you are treating the chickens so treated chickens won't enter back into an untreated area. I have definitely noticed that one hen can be more susceptible, they usually have health issues and tend to die a little early compared to others.