Mites.

[Neumann]

I am new to having chickens and need help. I believe they have mites as they peck at themselves and are loosing some feathers. I have provided a dust bath but they are afraid of it as the dirt is a lighter color than regular dirt. I have placed diatomaceous earth under their pine shavings and bought a spay for coop and chickens.
Is there anything else I should or could be doing for them?

 

[nuthatched]

Hi there,
What's their diet? How old are they? Are they molting?
Don't use diatomaceous earth anywhere you or your birds could breathe it, it's a respiratory irritant. Wear a mask next time you clean out your coop, please.
If they do have mites, use a permethrine based dust or spray on and around your birds.

 

[Neumann]

Hi there,
What's their diet? How old are they? Are they molting?
Don't use diatomaceous earth anywhere you or your birds could breathe it, it's a respiratory irritant. Wear a mask next time you clean out your coop, please.
If they do have mites, use a permethrine based dust or spray on and around your birds.

Ok thank you for that information. I don't know how old they are. The sellers left them here and gave me no info on them. I feed them organic Purina layered pellets along with some fruits and veggies.

 

[nuthatched]

Ok thank you for that information. I don't know how old they are. The sellers left them here and gave me no info on them. I feed them organic Purina layered pellets along with some fruits and veggies.

Ok, how long have you had them ?
Can you get a picture or two? If not, are their combs and saddles large and red?