feather mites?

[HeatherFeather]

I was examining one of my girls today, and I parted her feathers in an area where they were a little sparse; she has just come out of molt. I saw some short feathers with a whitish buildup all over them, they were crusty looking. Then I saw a little ivory mite looking thing crawl past.

Feather mites?

They have their own dust holes outside in the run in the covered area...should i make an indoor box and fill it with DE? We're organic here so won't be using any chems. How do I keep them from laying in the dust bath I make them?

Its very very cold here....-15C today, so I want to make sure that the whole flock doesn't get them, if they do already. I dusted the girl in question with DE but can't dust the rest of the flock as they aren't as tame as her.

 

[ivan3]

Check your `find' against the shots here: http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

Probably lice.

Check this recent thread as the lice/mite prevention/suppression/extermination regimens are pretty much the same. https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=279477&p=1

If not the above:

Intermittents: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/PS/PS03600.pdf

Less common: http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0019.html

Good news is that most won't want to feed off of you.

Good luck, stay warm!

(tea tree oil is `organic'? but can only be used on roosts, not directly on birds - another member will probably know of something effective). DE mixed with `clean' wood ashes and fine sand is a good bet

 

[HeatherFeather]

Ugh-definately lice.

Seems better than if it were mites though.

I have to examine all the birds tonight for something else, so looks like I'll be doing a body check whilst I'm at it. Then reading up on poultry lice all night!

Yay!!

 

[mom'sfolly]

Pymethrin is organic, and is the main ingredient in poultry dust. It is made from chrysanthmum flowers. I'm sure I've spelled things wrong, but the info is good.

 

[kayri]

pyrethins are considered OK for organic farms (I believe) and has a relatively low toxicity to chickens (and to you). A flea bath (with pyrethirns) should get rid of lice, but if one has them, I bet the rest do also. If they aren't very tame, if will be hard to give them all a bath, but it is a sure-fire way to get rid of those lice without stuff like ivermectin.