Hatching eggs from a flock with possible scaly leg mites. Got a few questions

[basssnake]

My brothers flock may have scaly leg mites. Their legs on some of the hens have crusty growths with some bleeding on a couple of them. He didn't know what it was til I researched it last week and I am pretty sure that is what it is.

I want to hatch eggs from the flock. I want to know if the scaly leg mites can stay on the eggs during the whole time in incubator and then infect the chicks? Any advice would be deeply appreciated. If that could happen and infect the new chicks, can I wash the eggs and then attempt to incubate? Or spray them with something that won't contaminate the eggs but kill the mites?

 

[sourland]

I would guess that scaly leg mites have a really low incidence of transmission through setting eggs.

 

[basssnake]

Does anyone else have any opinions or input?

 

[basssnake]

Any other options or advice....

 

[Winter Creek Coop]

Never heard of it happening.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

I would find it highly unlikely that a mite could survive 21+ days without a host. Eggs wouldn't be able to provide for its needs.

 

[basssnake]

True on eggs not being a suitable host. But wife said she read they can live a long time without food. Fleas and ticks can live a long time without food so that was the reason for concern.

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

Okay. I looked it up. Apparently without access to blood, mites usually die within 3 weeks. That makes it extremely unlikely that an egg contaminated with mites would be able to infest a chick, especially if said egg is incubated entirely in an incubator.