Mites??? Help!

[EmilyChickens]

Hi all!

I just noticed these on a few of my hens (including my one hen who’s been a permanent house resident for months ) and I have no idea where they came from, or what they are. They’re SUPER tiny and all over the feathers, unlike most mites which are usually close to the skin. What do I do to get rid of these things?
(all of the little dots on the feathers are the bugs)

 

[azygous]

They look like they could be mites, and it also looks like those feathers are being stripped. I've always heard feather mites were too small to see, though.

Whatever these bugs are and whatever they've come for, you can get rid of them with permethrin poultry dust, found in any garden supply or even in the pet section at Walmart. It's completely safe to use directly on the chickens.

You will, however, need to treat the coop top to bottom inside and out or you will still have them. Permethrin also comes in a liquid form which is easier to use inside a coop. You need to retreat after a couple weeks.

If the permethrin fails to adequately resolve this problem, I highly recommend this product, even though it's hideously expensive. It works the first time. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0042L8S7A/?tag=backy-20

 

[aart]

Did you squish one to see if it's filled with blood?
Are there any on the birds skin?
They seem too big for mites....can't zoom in close enough to really tell.

 

[WthrLady]

Northern Fowl mites look like pepper. I second the dusting and repeated dusting, and the total strip down of their living conditions and treat that and then again in 7 days. If you miss the retreatments, you have to start all over again.

 

[quackersandfern]

I guess it could be mites. Put that's not usually where you'd find them. Have you seen this infographic? It might be helpful for you to figure out whats going on - http://www.poultrydvm.com/featured-infographic/identifying-common-ectoparasites-of-backyard-poultry

 

[cmom]

If you have some type of mites, the best product to get rid of them in my opinion is permethrin which is very cost effective. I had a severe infestation last year and the birds were loosing a lot of feathers which I thought was due to molting but upon closer inspection discovered the mites. I treated the coop weekly for awhile with permethrin because it does not kill the mite eggs. Permethrin works and there is no egg withdrawal. Initially I sprayed the birds too. If you have a TSC you can get the dust, premixed spray and the concentrate. I also use the dust on the birds and in their nest boxes and spray inside of the coops, every crack and crevice, on and under the roosts, ceiling, walls, floors, anywhere the mites can hide. I buy the concentrate but I have a lot of coops so I mix it in a gallon sprayer and the wand helps me to reach the hard to reach areas. For smaller places the premixed spray is good. It took awhile for the birds feathers to come back in, but they are beautiful again. If do use the dust or spray, wear special clothing including a mask and gloves. Good luck...