Microscopic bugs?

[aart]

Not sure the rain suit is necessary, it's not hydrochloric acid.

 

[Ted Brown]

@Tesumph

Success with better pictures, taken with Nikon D810 with a 105mm Macro lens processed through Photoshop for enhancement, clarity and sharpening.

They have eight legs so are mites and we have determined that they have lived off the chicken for a bit more than a week. The pictures (white background) also show, we believe, some without blood and some with. It is apparent from leg movement (see shots with black background) that they are still alive. The white background shot with the circle clearly shows eight legs.

I will check again tonight with paper towel under the roosts for signs of blood. Will also try to feel for lumps on the chickens.

 

[Tesumph]

@Tesumph

Success with better pictures, taken with Nikon D810 with a 105mm Macro lens processed through Photoshop for enhancement, clarity and sharpening.

They have eight legs so are mites and we have determined that they have lived off the chicken for a bit more than a week. The pictures (white background) also show, we believe, some without blood and some with also after off the chicken for a bit more than a month. It is apparent from leg movement (see shots with black background) that they are still alive after more than a week. the white background shot with the circle clearly shows eight legs.

I will check again tonight with paper towel under the roosts for signs of blood. Will also try to feel for lumps on the chickens.

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Cool pics! they are mites.
Engorged Ornithonyssus can survive off the host for a couple of weeks. Following the spraying schedule + keeping up with routine checks will clear them up no problem.

 

[Ted Brown]

1st spray down of the flock is done. Temperatures increased and will continue to rise over the next 7 days.

I was fortunate to have my photographer friend lend a hand. Twenty five birds to do, took just under two hours. Waited until after dark.

They are now in a large cage inside the garage, will stay overnight. I will spray the inside of the coop tomorrow morning and let it dry. I will repeat the treatment next Monday.

Also started the roof on the expanded run, drive to finish while the weather remains warm.

 

[Kiki]

Some reading material..

I would not wait 7 days to treat again..
5 days would be better and do it for no less than 3 treatments.



https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig141

 

[Ted Brown]

@Kiki thank you for the advice, reading material.

I just did the flock tonight will repeat next Monday evening which will be five days. @Tesumph recommended a third treatment at day 14 which is the plan.

 

[RainbowHen]

Glad you figured it out! Hopefully your flock feels better soon. I battled mites this spring and it was exactly that, a battle. You've gotten some great advice. Best of luck!

 

[Ted Brown]

I have just sprayed the inside of the coop, while I sprayed the walls I concentrated on the bedding, nest boxes, roosts, PDZ, under the drop boards. As I was doing I kept wondering if I have done things correctly, should I do the run underneath, should I... ???

I have rationalized:

1. That the mites I have (Northern Fowl) are primarily "on the bird" and if they go off they would go to the bedding (but I know that this is not true as they are living on the cat cage that was in the brooder box where I kept the hen on which we first discovered the mites).
2. That the permethrin spray will persist on the chickens over the next few days.
3. That I will re-spray two more times.

But the truth is I do not know, just doing all the things that those that have responded to this thread have suggested, very much appreciated.

 

[RainbowHen]

I never sprayed my run, just the coop

 

[Painted Calls]

Great pics! Definitely Northern Fowl Mites. Good advice has already been given here. Good luck!