I think my new chicken might have mites?

[Pecked2Death]

Hi, I bought 10, 6-8 week old chicks from a home breeder down the road from me. My children have been holding up in the coop with the chicks, so they are friendlier. It seems my children are now covered in very itchy bites. They start lie a little bubble and then the scratch them as they are VERY itching. They now have large sores wherever they had the little bump. Could this be bites from something on the chicks?

Thanks. My chickens normally free range, but as I mentioned in an earlier message there is something knocking them off. (I'm in Huntsville Al) in case anyone is nearby.

Stef

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They could easily be mites, pretty common.
I don't bring in birds from other flocks any more but when I did I'd look the birds over very closely before I brought them home and they always get quarantined at least 2 weeks and at least 50 feet away from my birds.
Look closely around the vent and under wings and look for bumps on the leg scales.
Get 5% Sevin dust and dust them well. Work it down to the skin and repeat in a week.
I don't think it will help the scaly leg mite.

 

[Pecked2Death]

Thanks. These are only the second lot of chickens we have bought - all the others came from a home-schooling family who did everything organic and the hens were friendly and healthy. I couldn't contact her this this around.

My husband does not want a rooster as he does not want to deal with "fertilized eggs!

He can hunt and kill things - but eating the start of a chicken (all-be-it a chicken) NO WAY.