Help! Is this lice or mites?

[Candis M]

I'm new to chicken keeping and hoping someone can offer some advice as I do not have a local vet that accepts chickens. All suggestions are welcomed and appreciated.

I have 6 hens, they are about 2 years old. They are all free-range, except at night. The area is kept clean. They do not bully each other. They eat good quality feed and no one acts sick or lethargic.

About 2-3 months ago 1 of the hens started losing her underbelly and vent area feathers. I thought maybe it was a molt but it has continued. Then I noticed some of the other girls starting to look the same. (Please see pictures). In the last 2 weeks, egg production is down and I have noticed that half of them no longer want to perch at night and want to sleep at the floor of the coop.

I checked for lice and mites and do not see any. I have tried soaking them in Epsom salt, and have now started treating for external parasites.

Has anyone experienced this or seen this in their flock? If so, how did you treat it? Am I on the right track in treating for lice/mites?

If you think this is mites or lice, any experience or suggestions on how to treat would be so appreciated.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have noticed that half of them no longer want to perch at night and want to sleep at the floor of the coop.

I checked for lice and mites and do not see any. I have tried soaking them in Epsom salt, and have now started treating for external parasites.

Welcome To BYC

Check your coop at night to see if you are dealing with Mites. Run a paper towel along the roosting bars and in the nesting boxes to see if you get smears from bugs or bugs on the towel. Most Mites live in the housing and come out at night to feed.

How much space do you have in your coop? Are all 6 hens affected with feather loss or just a few? Do the ones that have feather loss sleep on the floor or is it a mixture?

It won't hurt to give them a good dusting with a Permethrin based poultry dust, repeat in 5-7 days intervals.

For housing, use a Permethrin based poultry spray, make sure to spray into nooks/crannies, including nesting boxes and roosting bars, etc. and clean out all bedding. Repeat in 5-7day intervals.