New Chickens: Mites, Molt, or ?

[Roxieroo]

I got new chickens today. The people seemed nice and clean, but the birds look like this. They assured me they are just molting. My hens at home are too young to have done that. Is that all this is?

I have a separate coop they will be in at first, but if these are mites, what do I need to do for them?

 

[sourland]

They've been feather pecked/plucked. I would guess they were crowded in their previous home?

 

[Roxieroo]

I don't know. The family seemed to be getting rid of all their chickens, so I don't know how many were there before I got mine. What can I do to help?

 

[ChickNanny13]

You can "check" for mites ... look around the vent/under wing area, at night check the roost or run you hands along it if you feel anything. You could also just dust them with Garden & Poultry Dust (vent/under wing area).

 

[Roxieroo]

So wait, you can actually see mites on them? I've been checking them over pretty hard and haven't seen anything at all, but I didn't think you COULD see them! (I'll be googling that now. ) I was mostly looking for bites or something. I'm a know-nothing-newbie, I'm sorry.