Mites / lice, or molting.., what say you?

[Panhandler80]

My chickens will be one year old tomorrow. Actually, it might be today.

Just now noticed these bare and thinning spots just ventral and anterior of tail. On 4 or 5 of 21 total

Quick Google indicates that molting occurs around 18 months and begins at head and neck.

Facts:

- 4 or 5 out of 21 exhibit this
- zero witnessed bullying
- 24 hour access to approximately 500 ft run
- 8x8 coop with zero obstruction on ground
- sealed floor with rough pine shavings
- shavings changed One month ago
- shavings have not been turned yet (need to)
- 24 hr access to food and water
- 32 feet of roosting space
- chickens seem very happy
- Ample activities in run
- great ventilation
- NW Florida
- Purina Layena feed
- 16-20 eggs / day
- no rooster

I suspect this will in fact be a lice or mite infestation considering they only a year old and feather loss is all starting at this location.

Going to pick up some treatment on way home today. Called Gardstar Y-Texb garden and poultry. Also going to inspect birds tonight. QUESTION... do in treat just the birds and coop, or attempt to treat run somehow as well? They have 24 access to run and it’s well drained dirt that becomes one huge dust bath after just half a day or so of no rain.

Pics in next post

 

[Panhandler80]

 

[Panhandler80]

checked out 3-4 cloaca and saw no critters

 

[cmom]

To be absolutely sure, check the birds at night when they roost. some mites only come out at night and feed on the birds. I use a headlamp so I have both of my hands free to inspect the birds. This is not the time of year where the birds typically molt. Do you have an alpha female doing mock mountings? Good luck...

 

[Panhandler80]

To be absolutely sure, check the birds at night when they roost. some mites only come out at night and feed on the birds. I use a headlamp so I have both of my hands free to inspect the birds. This is not the time of year where the birds typically molt. Do you have an alpha female doing mock mountings? Good luck...

Don’t have a male. Have read that some females will mount too, though. I have not witnessed that. I’ll see what’s going on when they roost and I’ll look for mites at night.

 

[mowin]

Are they still laying? They typically stop laying once the molt starts

 

[Panhandler80]

They are laying. I’m at tractor supply right now buying what’s called poultry protector. I think they’re mice or lice. I’m gonna clean the coop out regardless and spray them down.

 

[Panhandler80]

Cleaned it as thoroughly as I know how to. I’m going to spray it down with that product I just bought. And then sprayed each bird down.

 

[mowin]

Cleaned it as thoroughly as I know how to. I’m going to spray it down with that product I just bought. And then sprayed each bird down.

Holy crap. Your hired to come clean mine, lol

 

[Panhandler80]

Well, if this doesn’t work they can die. For real. Figured rather than dick around with it let’s go after it hard-core once and see what happens