Is this mites?

[craftyphotog]

Hi,
I've been reading BYC for a year; this is my first post.

I think my 15mo old Buff has mites, but I'm not sure. She stared off about three months ago with a bald area on her bum, right above her vent. Some feathers have grown back around the edge of the area; she actually has one almost full feather near the middle, so it looks kind of funny. lol!
Then, 2 weeks ago, we noticed a few small black spots on her comb. We we returned from vacation a couple days ago, the spots had increased.
If it is mites, what can I do to help her? I've been putting down DE since spring. She seems healthy otherwise: laying, eating/drinking well, normal poo. She's the only one of the flock (3 hens, two 3 mo old pullets) like this. My white wyandotte had a couple black spots on her comb around the same time, but they are now gone. Also, kind of related, is there anything I can do about gnats? They are really bad around here (MO) this year.

Thanks so much for any help! BYC is the first place I come when I have a chicken related question.

Blessings,
Becca

 

[Judy]

DE will not stop a mite/lice infestation. I'll give you a link that has some fairly good pics to show you what to look for, and how to treat them if they are present.

The spots on the comb could easily be either pecking injuries or fowl pox. If it's fowl pox, it's basically not a problem, not if you only get small spots on combs or wattles like that. Fowl pox is a virus carried by mosquitoes and is common in summer. Also, you should see the same thing in your other birds, or most of them, in the next few days. The spots will last 3 weeks then suddenly disappear. The chicken will then beimmune for life. I had it in my flock a few years ago, and it did just this -- and I haven't seen any sign since. I did have one hen who got lesions around her eye and deeded some ophthalmic antibiotic ointment, probably for secondary bacterial infection. If they get lesions in their throat it is called wet fowl pox and is dangerous to them. I had about 20 chickens at the time but had no wet pox.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

 

[craftyphotog]

Thanks, Judy!

 

[Eggcessive]

Another method of mite/lice control is the use of wood ash (from a fireplace) to dust a chicken or to place in their dust bath areas.

 

[craftyphotog]

Thanks, Eggcessive! I've actually been mixing wood ash with pine shavings just to give them something to take a dust bath in, didn't know it could be helpful with mites.

Can anyone tell me if this is definitely mites or something else? Could the small, white scabby looking areas be a sign of a yeast infection?

 

[craftyphotog]

Just bumping to the top in case anyone else has any advice or tips. Thanks so much!