Mites - how can I be sure?

[4EverOrp]

Keep coop clean & tidy. Deep clean coop. Check with torch at night.
Anything else I should do to be sure I don't have any critters?

I have done all of the above and can't see any visible signs of mites (yes I know what they look like as have had a serious infestation in the past - but that's another story!)

The reason I ask is some of my 20 week orpington hens have thinning/bare patches around their vent area and there is constant preening. They are coming to the end of a juvenile moult - so perhaps its just that?

 

[Kessel23]

I can usually tell just by picking a bird up ad holding it for a little while, if it has mites then a few of them usually crawl onto me if I hold the bird long enough. You could also just pick them up and look through their feathers, the mites usually hang out in that little indented area under the tail and above the vent.

 

[4EverOrp]

Thanks. I'll inspect them again tomorrow!

 

[aart]

Definitely check them over closely.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

 

[4EverOrp]

Have checked really thoroughly both on birds and in the coop (and at night)
Can't see anything at all - which is great!
Any routine care I should be doing to keep it this way?

 

[aart]

Any routine care I should be doing to keep it this way?

Best thing to do is keep checking regularly...then be ready to treat if you do find some.

I believe preventative chemicals/pesticides, herbs and spices, to be nothing but a panacea that gives nothing but a false sense of security.

Keep wild birds out of your coop and run if possible, that's where most mites and lice come from. Stay out of other peoples coops, or change all your clothes and shoes after doing so you can inadvertently bring pests/disease home with you, I never wear my coop shoes anywhere off my place and never go into coop in shoes I wear other places.

Keep checking regularly...then be ready to treat if you do find some.

(yes I know what they look like as have had a serious infestation in the past - but that's another story!)

What did you do to eradicate the previous infestation?

 

[4EverOrp]

Thanks Aart - very helpful.
My coop and run are covered so wild birds/animals have no access.
Previous experience with mites was 8 years ago - different set of hens, different coop. We were beginners and didn't know what we were doing - lost all our hens overnight to a fox (didn't shut pophole, fox broke through weld mesh wire) A few days later I went to clean up the coop only to find it crawling with hungry mites - I guess they were wondering where their hens had gone! We had young children at the time - the mites got on everything - their hair, clothes etc - pretty awful experience - probably the reason I am so wary now!

 

[4EverOrp]

Should have added that we burnt that coop!