white matter in feathers...

[destorieswind]

so when I go to check on the chickens to make sure they are in their coop, and they do the stretch and fluff their feathers exercise,
some white stuff fluffs out of their feathers. Its almost like dust but white matter.
I dont know if this is some kind of mite or if it is normal.
anyone know?

 

[rooster-red]

If its mites you can check the feathers around the vent area, there will be clumps of white stuff attached to the base of the feather shafts.

 

[Mahonri]

Yeah, well buddy, I hope it's not mites... I didn't look that roo over very carefully that I got from you before I brought him home!! I'll look him over real well in the morning before he meets his new room mates.

BTW, your flock (especially those gorgeous leghorns all looked VERY HEALTHY). Congrats.

 

[jimnjay]

Mites of all types are easily treated with Frontline Spray. You use a qtip or eye dropper 6-8 drops on a standard bird. Back of the neck, along side the vent and under the wings. There is a residual effect and the protections lasts for several months. Mites are very hard to detect. If you see the matted feathers it is not a good sign. Infestation can be fatal. Frontline is expensive but a bottle will treat a flock for a very long time. I have found it worth the money to feel secure they are bug free.

 

[SpottedCrow]

Before you start freaking out about buggies, look closely at their feathers...if you can see like little feathers that look like they're covered in wax, that "dust" is just the protective covering of the feathers coming off.

If you check wingpits and vents, you'd see mites if they have them. My son gave me headlice, so I'm exceptionally picky about buggies right now...

 

[77horses]

Strange.....our two male Cockatiels have that too!

It's like powder in their feathers.

Kinda like powdered sugar. I better look them over.

Too bad they both like to bite!

 

[HorseFeathers]

Quote:
Dander perhaps? Look out for mites though...

 

[silkiechicken]

Falls out when fluffing... I'm going to say that is bird dander and feather shaft reminants of growing in feathers.

Mites and lice won't change that and you have to look at feather shafts and on the skin to see it.

I bet they are fine.