six_chooks_for_now
Songster
Hello! We have 6 adult hens who have started to have dark marks on their combs which I have read can be a sign of mites. I have checked several of them near the vent, on their face, and in their feathers and I can't seem to identify any actual mites/lice, so I am not sure exactly what it is.
Background:
A few weeks ago we noticed one of our hens (Buff Orpington, 1 year old) was a little gimpy. We checked regularly for developing bumblefoot but nothing appeared. We then thought maybe she had scaly leg mites and her legs were inflamed because it looked like a couple of her scales looked more lifted than the rest. Last week we soaked her legs in some warm soapy water and have been applying vaseline to hopefully smother them just in case. She was the first one to then have dark marks on her comb. Then, a second hen (colorpack - LeghornX, just under 1 year old) had the marks as well. When I took a look at them this morning, they all seem to have the dark marks except the one with a pea comb. We took a couple pictures which I will include. It seems like the dark marks appeared then got better then came back on the Orpington.
We are due for a full coop spring cleaning so when I have a warm day next week I will clean it completely out and disinfect. But my questions are - do I just treat them for mites even though I can't seem to see any? Maybe I am not checking for the mites closely enough, or correctly? And do the scaly mites respond to the same treatment as the ones that live on and around their vent/feathers or do I have to treat each individually? Or is this something else entirely?
I included pictures of the Orpington, Speckled Sussex and Colorpack. I couldn't catch the other two. The Orpington currently has it the worst. She is our boss hen so I feel like pecking injury would be unlikely but you never know!
Our set up:
4x4 raised coop with 3 nesting boxes, two perches, wood bedding pellets on the floor, then I scoop out the droppings and replace as needed. 12x4 run with dirt floor, protected from getting muddy. They free range most of the day (from about 8 or 9 in the morning until dusk). We are located in the PNW.
Thank you much for your opinions and expertise
Background:
A few weeks ago we noticed one of our hens (Buff Orpington, 1 year old) was a little gimpy. We checked regularly for developing bumblefoot but nothing appeared. We then thought maybe she had scaly leg mites and her legs were inflamed because it looked like a couple of her scales looked more lifted than the rest. Last week we soaked her legs in some warm soapy water and have been applying vaseline to hopefully smother them just in case. She was the first one to then have dark marks on her comb. Then, a second hen (colorpack - LeghornX, just under 1 year old) had the marks as well. When I took a look at them this morning, they all seem to have the dark marks except the one with a pea comb. We took a couple pictures which I will include. It seems like the dark marks appeared then got better then came back on the Orpington.
We are due for a full coop spring cleaning so when I have a warm day next week I will clean it completely out and disinfect. But my questions are - do I just treat them for mites even though I can't seem to see any? Maybe I am not checking for the mites closely enough, or correctly? And do the scaly mites respond to the same treatment as the ones that live on and around their vent/feathers or do I have to treat each individually? Or is this something else entirely?
I included pictures of the Orpington, Speckled Sussex and Colorpack. I couldn't catch the other two. The Orpington currently has it the worst. She is our boss hen so I feel like pecking injury would be unlikely but you never know!
Our set up:
4x4 raised coop with 3 nesting boxes, two perches, wood bedding pellets on the floor, then I scoop out the droppings and replace as needed. 12x4 run with dirt floor, protected from getting muddy. They free range most of the day (from about 8 or 9 in the morning until dusk). We are located in the PNW.
Thank you much for your opinions and expertise
