ok, so I finally caught some of these on tape in a trash can that contained feed and bedding leftovers and stuck them under the microscope
been battling with them for months (my poor birdies! some are really weak now)
the birds have feather mites that flare up from time to time - but these mites are in addition to that and have been making the birds stomp their feet, flick their tails, and shake their heads especially at night while roosting
treatment with pyrethrins worked but I need to do it again (third time) and this time be more thorough, I think (just wanted to see of it worked at all - have been trying DE, poultry protector, ivermectin, Elector PSP without any effect)
tried to identify the species of mite from internet photos - I thought they may be grain mites, actually, and that may be bothering the birds after the feather mites destroy the quill and the grain mites may move in to chew the damaged feather shaft that is still attached to the bird - that is what it looked like: the quill mite damage was added to by something chewing the quill off to the skin
anyway - maybe you know better what this mite may be
some pics show it with its head/trunk tucked under, some with the head/truck straight out - it does have a pointy head and two "hairs" off the rear end - also, harder to see in the pics, some "hair" tufts on the body, like a cactus
see what you think - please let me know what your ID would be - Thank you!!!
been battling with them for months (my poor birdies! some are really weak now)
the birds have feather mites that flare up from time to time - but these mites are in addition to that and have been making the birds stomp their feet, flick their tails, and shake their heads especially at night while roosting
treatment with pyrethrins worked but I need to do it again (third time) and this time be more thorough, I think (just wanted to see of it worked at all - have been trying DE, poultry protector, ivermectin, Elector PSP without any effect)
tried to identify the species of mite from internet photos - I thought they may be grain mites, actually, and that may be bothering the birds after the feather mites destroy the quill and the grain mites may move in to chew the damaged feather shaft that is still attached to the bird - that is what it looked like: the quill mite damage was added to by something chewing the quill off to the skin
anyway - maybe you know better what this mite may be
some pics show it with its head/trunk tucked under, some with the head/truck straight out - it does have a pointy head and two "hairs" off the rear end - also, harder to see in the pics, some "hair" tufts on the body, like a cactus
see what you think - please let me know what your ID would be - Thank you!!!
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