Quail and what I think are mites..

2 many chickens · May 13, 2019

I have a few button quail and several different enclosures. Tonight I noticed what I thought was dust on the top of one's cage and it was hundreds of white tiny bugs.. I could hardly see them without a flashlight. They are on the other ones cages too, on the walls and everything. I cleaned their cages but I have to go get something to treat them from the feed store for what I'm assuming are mites. The mites are even in their food bag, climbing the wall near them and on their lamp. What in the heck, I feel like such a horrible pet owner..

How can I stop this? Why are they climbing on the wall and going in their feed bag? Can I get these? Can my cats? I lysoled my walls and stuff but yeah.. what can I use? Seven? Is it possible my lizards gave them mites? They are near them in a different tank.

God help me, I think I'm going to burn my house down. I'm disturbed.

2 many chickens · May 13, 2019

The thing with mites is I thought they'd be on the bird itself and not all over their cage and on the top of it? Or is it that bad of an infestation? Or is it something else like lice?

le_bwah · May 13, 2019

As far as I know, mites wouldn't be out in the light, and they wouldn't be at all interested in the birds' feed. White would also = unfed, if it were mites. Do you have a camera that can image something that small?

el dorado quail · May 13, 2019

le_bwah said:
As far as I know, mites wouldn't be out in the light, and they wouldn't be at all interested in the birds' feed. White would also = unfed, if it were mites. Do you have a camera that can image something that small?

Might be mites not preying on the birds. My grandparents had a similar infestation IN their house/outside from wild birds.
@OP: mites would definitely be eating something. If there's no evidence on the birds check your reptile tank. I think sevin works and there are few "natural" ways to deal with mites

2 many chickens · May 13, 2019

I just checked on them and they are all over the cage again, with the sunlight shining directly on them.

I don't know what they are. I'm at a loss.

2 many chickens · May 13, 2019

2 many chickens · May 13, 2019

Possibly grain mites???

DK newbie · May 13, 2019

Pretty sure those are the kind of mites that live of the bird's feed and not the birds themselves. Grain mites is probably the right name, yes. Don't know much about them but they come with the feed (and sometimes with the bedding, I think?) so battling them has to do with how you handle and store the feed. Might help to freeze the feed? Or buy small amounts so it'll be gone fast and then clean up well where the feed was.