Red Mites?

[azimmerli]

Hello, all. I have an 8 year old Welsummer who has been really struggling the last few days. The main symptom is that she's lost a lot of balance and mobility. She was suddenly wobbly four days ago, which I figured was just the heat, as it was over 100 degrees that day; though no other hens in my flock were showing any symptoms like that (all others are golden comets and gold-laced wyandottes). The next morning she seemed better, but by that evening, she was falling over again and very lethargic.

I brought her in and have given her water with electrolytes, and she has a little fan blowing cool air on her, but after two days she is very alert but losing even more balance and can't hardly stand without falling over. Her tailfeathers do look a little tattered but she hasn't molted in a while, otherwise she looks glorious. I checked her for mites this morning and saw some at the base of her feathers, but not a ton. Her stools are normal, she's eating and drinking, her crop doesn't feel abnormal, and she's not abnormally warm to the touch anywhere.

I've got some topical ivermectin from TSC that I'll be using on her shortly and some Elector PSP on the way, and will be treating the coop and the rest of the flock for mites. Any other suggestions? Anything I'm missing? I've been raising hens for nearly 10 years and this is the first time I've had this issue.

 

[GodLovesU]

If you can’t find any symptoms it might just be from her old age.

 

[dawg53]

Mites suck blood, cause anemia, then death. Ivermectin will treat your chickens and Elector as a premise spray will take care of the coops.

 

[azimmerli]

Mites suck blood, cause anemia, then death. Ivermectin will treat your chickens and Elector as a premise spray will take care of the coops.

Her comb and wattles are still pretty red, which was the only thing that gave me pause. I thought that the comb and wattles should be pale if there's anemia, which was the only thing that made me wonder. But sounds like mites to you?

 

[dawg53]

You stated in your post that you saw mites at the base of your Welsummer's feathers. One mite is one mite too many. Kill them or they will eventually kill your chicken(s).

Also, red mites can be carriers of spirochetes which infects the chickens blood.

 

[azimmerli]

You stated in your post that you saw mites at the base of your Welsummer's feathers. One mite is one mite too many. Kill them or they will eventually kill your chicken(s).

Also, red mites can be carriers of spirochetes which infects the chickens blood.

I did indeed. Thank you! Here's hoping that it's all it is and she'll be right as rain soon.

 

[Lillith37]

It sounds like if you only saw a couple you’ve caught it early.

Some mites live on the chicken (northern fowl mite). These are nocturnal, you will see them congregating at the base of feathers especially around the vent.

Some mites live in the environment/coop and travel to feed on the chicken (red chicken mite and tropical bird mite). Red mites are nocturnal and come out from cracks and crevices in the coop structure to feed at night. Bird mites can be active during the day and the night.

However in any case you need to treat all birds and the coop and then retreat at intervals depending on the severity of the infestation and your climate conditions.

Burn the coop bedding or bag it and throw it away. Don’t put it on your garden or compost.

Mites can complete their life cycle in as little as 3 days under optimal conditions so it’s very important to address the problem as soon as possible.

A good way to check for/monitor red mite and bird mite populations is to put pieces of corrugated cardboard under nest boxes/nest materials and under roosts. Check the cardboard weekly by tapping it on something white. If mites fall out and start scurrying around you still have a problem. You can burn the cardboard and put new pieces in, or microwave the pieces. I have had mites survive 30 seconds in a 1100kw microwave.

A good way to check for/monitor northern fowl mites on the birds is to check them weekly and press a wet piece of toilet paper or paper towel against any dirt specks around their vent and under their wings. It it’s dirt from dust bathing, it will remain unchanged on the paper. If it is dirt from mites, it will “bleed” out in a ring on the paper.

If your girl is older/slowing down, has been affected by heat etc and is moving around less and preening less, she will be more susceptible to mites. But all your flock can catch them.

 

[azimmerli]

It sounds like if you only saw a couple you’ve caught it early.

Some mites live on the chicken (northern fowl mite). These are nocturnal, you will see them congregating at the base of feathers especially around the vent.

Some mites live in the environment/coop and travel to feed on the chicken (red chicken mite and tropical bird mite). Red mites are nocturnal and come out from cracks and crevices in the coop structure to feed at night. Bird mites can be active during the day and the night.

However in any case you need to treat all birds and the coop and then retreat at intervals depending on the severity of the infestation and your climate conditions.

Burn the coop bedding or bag it and throw it away. Don’t put it on your garden or compost.

Mites can complete their life cycle in as little as 3 days under optimal conditions so it’s very important to address the problem as soon as possible.

A good way to check for/monitor red mite and bird mite populations is to put pieces of corrugated cardboard under nest boxes/nest materials and under roosts. Check the cardboard weekly by tapping it on something white. If mites fall out and start scurrying around you still have a problem. You can burn the cardboard and put new pieces in, or microwave the pieces. I have had mites survive 30 seconds in a 1100kw microwave.

A good way to check for/monitor northern fowl mites on the birds is to check them weekly and press a wet piece of toilet paper or paper towel against any dirt specks around their vent and under their wings. It it’s dirt from dust bathing, it will remain unchanged on the paper. If it is dirt from mites, it will “bleed” out in a ring on the paper.

If your girl is older/slowing down, has been affected by heat etc and is moving around less and preening less, she will be more susceptible to mites. But all your flock can catch them.

Thank you. I really hope that she's just been anemic due to mites and she'll get better soon. I appreciate your insight!