Hen with mites? Or hole flock with mites!

[Americanaluver]

Looks basically like this, but, there tinier and look, well, like dirt! At first I was like, oh, its just dirt shes fine, but, she continuously is scratching, well, biting I guess you could say, her sweat gland and is actually biting some of her back feathers because she is apparently trying to get to something, but, all I see is dry skin and little black dots, I saw these same little black dots about a mouth ago on her and thought it was just dirt to, but, there remaining in spot and its starting to worry me, tomorrow I am doing a full body check of everyone of my chickens, but, I just wanted to know if these were mites and how to make them go. I think I can get a pic, hold on.

Here, my camera can't focus on the actual dirt like bug things, so, I just got a clip of where she is biting her feathers off, as you can clearly see, the featherless path is getting closer and closer to her sweat gland, this hen is a tiny little D'uccle and ever sense I got her and the two others they continue to yawn and I thought it was just a stress thing because I only saw them do it when I held them, but, then I saw them doing it outside to, none of my other chickens scratch and bite and clean themselves as much as the D'uccles, yeah, they scratch bite and clean, but, only very Maybe once a day? The D'uccles yawn almost every 10 minutes, scratch every 2 minutes, bite every 3 minutes and clean themselves 24.7. I'm starting to get worried for my flock and my D'uccles!

 

[trinityfly]

Long battle ahead if they are mites. Look on the scales of the legs. They get under the scales and in severe infections the scales are lifted by the mite numbers. Actually seeing the mites is rare for me, mostly just the damage done. We have rubbed the chickens legs with garlic and olive oil. Garlic will put a crimp in the mites propagation and probably kill on contact, the oil suffocates them, especially under the scales. Recently have been using Petroleum Jelly in place of the olive oil on a rooster who has consistent problems with mites. When you feel the whole bird is infested then the best you can do is dust them with pyrethrin. Make sure you do the same with the roosts and the nests as well. I also add Diatomaceous Earth to the floor, bedding and roosts. I think one of the reasons birds take dust bath are to discourage mites. Not sure if you can ever do away with mites but you can keep the numbers down. It seems some birds are more sensitive (perhaps allergy) to mites and the damage. I have had some birds molt until not many feathers left. Lost one to cold this winter for lack of feathers. Not sure if that was indeed because of mites.

 

[elmo]

There are several different types of mites that bother chickens. Have you read this?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/LC-mites.html

Are you sure that those black spots aren't actually dirt? Have you seen those specs move? Chickens have preen glands that they use to spread oils onto their feathers to keep them in good order. Your chickens might just be doing their normally preening...after taking a dust bath.

 

[Lollipop]

If you feel you have an infestation, use Adams flea and tick dip, mixed as directed. After you dip the whole bird and swish him/her around in it up to their head, set them outside on a warm day to dry. Mix up some more to spray the coop, roosts, nests, everything. With Adams, you don`t have to re treat in 10 days to kill the hatchlings as the smell will last at least a month to let you know it`s still working. Smells like a bathed dog and works like a champ. To tell if you have mites/lice, pick one off the roost at night and use a flashlight to look closely under the tail and around the vent area. If you see tiny bugs scurrying for cover, treat them. Adams will also kill leg mites as trinityfly mentioned. Good luck........Pop