Mud or Mites?

[RidgeCreekFarm]

Is this Mites or could it be leftovers from a damp dirt bath/earthworm feast they created for themselves in the run a couple of days ago? I looked for a while and none of it actually moves.

Everywhere else, including their vents, look clean, it's only in a small area at the base of the tail on some of the chickens. Egg production finally picked up this week, and they all seem happy and normal.

We discovered that mice had been invading the coop via a straw bale we had put up against it for insulation, which we think finally explains why this girl's back and a few others got "mowed":

We found feather tips lining the mouse nest .

I originally started hunting through all their feathers because I thought her problem might be some kind of mite, but the base of her feathers, skin and vent are completely clean!

I just don't want to ignore it if it's the real deal OR go through a whole mite treatment course for leftover mud.

Thanks!

P.S. Just in case it matters; our girls are all 11 months old.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

It's really hard to tell. Do those specks move/crawl?

 

[ChickNanny13]

Hopefully you dealt with the mice problem?
You said - I looked for a while and none of it actually moves. So are they moving or not? I'm thinking it's left over dirt, going by the shapes. Have you tried running your bare hand along the roosts & exposed area? If you feel crawling, you got mites.

 

[aart]

If dust doesn't move, its not bugs
I went thru a phase of 'staring at dust' to see if it moved after an outbreak of grain mites.

Not sure what you've got there, sounds like you've looked well so I'd guess mud.

My standard bug blurb:
Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

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).

 

[RidgeCreekFarm]

Thank you so much for the replies!

@Wyorp Rock No, none of the specks move!

@ChickNanny13 We removed every straw bale from around the coop, minus one that we cut open and spread around for bedding in the run. I'm hoping that will take care of it, but if I see any more evidence of mice, I plan to rig up a box to put a mouse trap in so the chickens don't get caught, and look into some sort of natural, chicken safe, mouse repellent. It will be war!

I didn't think to check the roosts... I'll see about doing that later on today!

@aart No movement, so...! I like the idea of running a paper towel on the roosts at night! I've looked up mite pics till I feel itchy all over, just couldn't figure out if they sit around and feast like microscopic ticks, or if you can actually see movement.

Glad to know I'm not the only avid dirt watcher !

Thank you all again so much! I think at this point I'll check the roosts and as long as those are good, I'll breath a sigh of relief and stop itching!