Sheesh a guy can't even go out and do a little mowing without haveing to play catch-up when I get back in.
Mites in Ok. They are everywhere courtesy of the wild birds that fly over your chickens every day.
DE will minimize their numbers but if you have a really bad infestation first you might have to use a commercial spray and then the DE as a maintenence after that. Lice are more common and easily seen by the naked eye, mites are really tiny and some such as feather mites or the scaley leg mites won't be seen at all.
As far as I know neither the mites nor the lice ever have wings during any of their life stages.
That said, a healthy bird can and will usually carry a small parasite load both inside, worms, and out. Many will treat for parasites at least once yearly and sometimes twice but it depends on the ind. flock owner.
As far as the feather loss it is about time for the birds to go into a molt so they can get that beautiful winter plumage and stay warm.
Mites in Ok. They are everywhere courtesy of the wild birds that fly over your chickens every day.
DE will minimize their numbers but if you have a really bad infestation first you might have to use a commercial spray and then the DE as a maintenence after that. Lice are more common and easily seen by the naked eye, mites are really tiny and some such as feather mites or the scaley leg mites won't be seen at all.
As far as I know neither the mites nor the lice ever have wings during any of their life stages.
That said, a healthy bird can and will usually carry a small parasite load both inside, worms, and out. Many will treat for parasites at least once yearly and sometimes twice but it depends on the ind. flock owner.
As far as the feather loss it is about time for the birds to go into a molt so they can get that beautiful winter plumage and stay warm.
