UPDATED PICS: Possible Parasites?

[Blingchix6]

I looked at the photos and I didn’t see evidence of mites or lice. Look at the bases of the feathers for some tiny fuzzy dots. Then look for tiny little bugs on the skin near the vent. They are VERY small;can be red. I had this on my chickens, used 2 drops of frontline on their neck and 2 drops below the vent. I also cleaned out the coop and scrubbed the walls, roosts and nesting boxes with Elector PSP. No problems since I did all of that. I have a lot of wild birds flying in and out of the coop looking for food (mostly sparrows)and theymight be a source of mites and lice. Everyone is clear now. Good luck with your flock

 

[aart]

frontline on their neck

I use this on my dog, not sure I want it in my eggs tho.

 

[TiaMaria413]

Her tail feathers are all scraggly looking, and there is that hideously dirty spot around her uropygial gland. What I am looking at in her feathers looks suspiciously similar to a Northern Fowl Mite infestation.
I am willing to accept that it might just be dirty.

Hi there. Did you ever find out what it was? My chicken looks similar and has a very dirty upper tail area (right around the preen gland) but is clean everywhere else. I could not see anything moving after looking carefully at her skin all over several times. Here are some close ups of the dirty preen gland and surrounding area. Over the summer she did dust bathe in old wood ashes from my wood stove.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Hi there. Did you ever find out what it was? My chicken looks similar and has a very dirty upper tail area (right around the preen gland) but is clean everywhere else. I could not see anything moving after looking carefully at her skin all over several times. Here are some close ups of the dirty preen gland and surrounding area. Over the summer she did dust bathe in old wood ashes from my wood stove.

Hi! I guess I should have followed up. I think it was just a dirty oil gland. The dust sticks to the oil, and it shows more because she's white. No mites! Her feathers never looked quite as pristine as before this mess, but she's molting now, so I'm hopeful.

Aww, heck. I'm just glad it wasn't bugs.

 

[aart]

Her feathers never looked quite as pristine as before this mess, but she's molting now, so I'm hopeful.

They'll look great for awhile...but will probably happen again.

Aww, heck. I'm just glad it wasn't bugs.

For Sure!!!