Microscope picture : is it red mites?

[Drarig99]

Here is what I found walking on a wood board in my chicken coop in day time. Can they be red mites? No scratching, no feather lost, no symptoms at all. Only these little critters. I had a look at them under the microscope with the 40x (red one) and 100x lens.

 

[azygous]

If you've confirmed that those insects are infesting your coop, I would just assume they are mites and lice and spray the coop down thoroughly with Permethrin or spinosad. Spinosad is sold under the label Elector PSP and can be ordered from Amazon.

 

[Tesumph]

First photo could be a bird or red mite, second photo look like a grain mite.
Not 100% sure though.

Great photos!

 

[Drarig99]

If you've confirmed that those insects are infesting your coop, I would just assume they are mites and lice and spray the coop down thoroughly with Permethrin or spinosad. Spinosad is sold under the label Elector PSP and can be ordered from Amazon.

Ok thanks, I’ll do that just in case. I’m mad like hell. I bougth a hen from my friend who told me later she was infested with red mites. The infestation was in an other pen (same coop), but who knows?

 

[lazy gardener]

While you can be mad at your friend, that will not eliminate the very likely occurrence of picking up parasites or disease from bringing ANY adult birds into your flock. Many of us have a closed flock policy for that very reason. Quarantine as well as doing a prophylactic spray or dusting for mites/lice before introducing new birds should be common practice.

BTW, mites and lice can show up in your flock without even introducing new birds to your flock. Rodents and wild birds passing through your yard can introduce the parasites without having direct contact with your birds.

 

[Drarig99]

First photo could be a bird or red mite, second photo look like a grain mite.
Not 100% sure though.

Great photos!

Thank you. I love having a microscope on hand.
You’re right, the second photo looks like a grain mite. I’ll put DE in the chicken feed. And I just cross my fingers I’m not infested with red mites. I have about 30 chickens and my coop is always cleaned twice a day. It couldn’t be any cleaner. Maybe that’s why I don’t see any symptoms on my hens at night (I have wifi cameras): I keep it under control with the continious cleaning so my hens don’t suffer much. Believe me, I won’t be able to thrust anyone who sell hens from now one.

 

[Drarig99]

While you can be mad at your friend, that will not eliminate the very likely occurrence of picking up parasites or disease from bringing ANY adult birds into your flock. Many of us have a closed flock policy for that very reason. Quarantine as well as doing a prophylactic spray or dusting for mites/lice before introducing new birds should be common practice.

BTW, mites and lice can show up in your flock without even introducing new birds to your flock. Rodents and wild birds passing through your yard can introduce the parasites without having direct contact with your birds.

Ok, I’ll remember it. Thanks!

 

[aart]

Great pics!..... and extra kudos for stating magnification!

Still got that first one, can you roll it over for a top view?

Second is a grain mite..annoying but pretty harmless...about the only thing DE will kill.
Where did you find it?

I too have a GM under the scope pic.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/grain-mites.981212/

 

[Drarig99]

Great pics!..... and extra kudos for stating magnification!

Still got that first one, can you roll it over for a top view?

Second is a grain mite..annoying but pretty harmless...about the only thing DE will kill.
Where did you find it?

I too have a GM under the scope pic.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/grain-mites.981212/

Here’s the top view. So, is it red mite? I just went in the coop and, looking carefully with a flashlite, couldn’t find any. Hens are very sleepy and calm.

 

[Drarig99]

Second is a grain mite..annoying but pretty harmless...about the only thing DE will kill.
Where did you find it?

It was just under the food storage which it just over a perch for my bantams girls. In fact, I did put my finger on the red mite to catch it and when I looked at it with the microscope, I saw the grain mite. Kinda lucky!