how can you tell if a chicken is free of mites

[Chicks in VA]

i had a chicken that has been exposed to mites i don't think he has them but i have done a treatment that isn't harmful
is there a way to tell if its free of mites?
he looks heathy and is acting normal so...

 

[My2butterflies]

What kind of mites? Did you inspect the vent area and under wings?

 

[Chicks in VA]

i dont know sorry because the is some long mites which might be lice but i don't know and then there is a bunch of tiny little thing on him too Thats what's on the infected one
i have checked on the one that i dont think is infected

 

[My2butterflies]

Do you have pictures? Did you treat him once or twice?

I have no experience with lice. But I know mites take a couple rounds to get rid of all of them.

 

[Ebony Rose]

Ruffle the feathers under the wings and at the vent area with an old white rag. The rag should come up dirty, but if the dirt it moving... then you gotta problem.

 

[Shadrach]

i had a chicken that has been exposed to mites i don't think he has them but i have done a treatment that isn't harmful
is there a way to tell if its free of mites?
he looks heathy and is acting normal so...

What treatment did you use and what made you think it was necessary?

 

[Shadrach]

i had a chicken that has been exposed to mites i don't think he has them but i have done a treatment that isn't harmful
is there a way to tell if its free of mites?
he looks heathy and is acting normal so...

To be certain your chicken doesn't have mites you need to work progressively from neck to vent lifting the feathers so you can see the skin and if anything moves then it's mites or lice. You need to be thorough.

 

[Chicks in VA]

What treatment did you use and what made you think it was necessary?

i used Diatomaceous earth because it cant hurt the bird and the reason it was necessary is because it was in contact with a bird who is sick with mites

 

[Shadrach]

i used Diatomaceous earth because it cant hurt the bird and the reason it was necessary is because it was in contact with a bird who is sick with mites

DE is not going to kill the mites if your chickens has them. As to can't hurt the bird, well that is debatable if it's inhaled.
First make certain your chicken has mites.
If she/he has then you need something called Permethrin. Yup I know it's a chemical. Thing is it's about the only one left now that is realtively easy and cheap to buy that works.

 

[aart]

How to check them over real well for mites and/or lice.....

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008