Potential red mite outbreak. Help!

[Anonymous]

Hello all
Just been chatting to Lydia and I was describing my hens eggs as having some speckles on, she said to wash them to see if they come off as it may be a sign of red mite.
I washed the eggs, none of the speckles washed off or even came off with one of those sponge pan scourer things, but some of the speckles came off after I scraped them with my nails. It looked as though part of the shell was coming off as well and the darker speckles are slightly raised up from the rest of the shell. The lighter speckles on the other eggs just look like freckles and part of the egg colouring. Most of the eggs have random speckles but one has a distinct dark patch on it. Ringo is the only big hen laying at the moment and seems quite happy and healthy and she is eating well.
Mrs Bantam is still laying well and shows no signs of ill health or being infested with anything other than occasionally being picked on by the ninja hen.

None of the other hens appear unwell.

I have some diatom which I'll put in their food, bedding and on them starting from tomorrow just to be sure and give their houses an extra good srcub out. I have garlic granules which I add to their food and I should get some wages tomorrow so I'll fork out for some ACV as well.


I've added some pics of my eggs, they're not the clearest as I used my camera phone. I can't tell you the colour of the speckles due to being colour blind and I only know that the eggs are brown because I was told that welsummers lay brown eggs and they're not the ordinary light egg shell colour I'm used to seeing.


Any help, comments, advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for the tip Lydia, it never occured to me that my hens might be infested. I'm

fairly sure they're okay but there's nowt wrong with being thorough!

Osric

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Osric,if the spots didn't wash off,they wont be blood which is an indicator of red mite.It should be unusual for them to have red mite at this time of year because of the cold.Freezing conditions kills mites.

I'd lay off dusting your chickens etc,as,if they haven't got red mite,it is a waste as well.I am sorry if I worried you.

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Osric,if the spots didn't wash off,they wont be blood which is an indicator of red mite.It should be unusual for them to have red mite at this time of year because of the cold.Freezing conditions kills mites.

I'd lay off dusting your chickens etc,as,if they haven't got red mite,it is a waste as well.I am sorry if I worried you.

Don't be silly!

Better safe than traumatised by finding ill (or worse, dead ) hens!!!

I think I was becoming a bit lazy re checking out hen houses for mites and other lurgy. It gave me a well needed kick up the hint end. I'll still be out there tomorrow to give them a good clean out and clear yet more snow out of their way.

Osric

 

[snifter]

I'd not worry about red mite in the current climate. Your eggs look fine. Sometimes eggs are laid with mottled markings on. I don't see it as anything to worry about. I can remember some of my girls used to lay eggs with darker brown raised little spots on them. It was part of the shell and never a concern.

I'd also not worry with Diatom this time of year in the hen house. It really is too cold for red mite. If you check your hen house at night and shine a torch under the perches that will soon give you an answer as to having red mite roaming. They are nocturnal and can easily be seen under perches coming out to feed. Also running your finger along the underside of a perch will catch them and fresh blood will show up.

Red mite will potentially be a problem in spring and summer, often if we have rain and then a warm spell. In this cold they will be lying dormant (if you have any that is).

 

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the advice Snifter

I'll hang fire with the Diatom for now but still bought some ACV this morning from Earthly Enterprises.

Osric

 

[victorias poultry]

Hi Osric
You don;t normally get red mite in these cold temperatures, to be sure check at night time in the crack of the rooting poles.
Some eggs do have raised red speckles on them, is normal and nothing to be worried about.

Sue

 

[Tim]

I'd agree with all the advice - Red Mite are hibernating at the mo. and with a bit of luck dead or about to die in the cold!

When the weather heats up again (around May) If there are mites on your eggs you'll soon know because they will crawl all over your hands too and itch like a bugger!

 

[Anonymous]

When the weather heats up again (around May) If there are mites on your eggs you'll soon know because they will crawl all over your hands too and itch like a bugger!

Ugh! I'm really looking forward to that. NOT!

Osric

 

[Anonymous]

Hi there,

This could just be natural pigmentation. I have a variety of hens including welsummers. Welsummer eggs are very brown. If you scratch the surface of a Welsummer egg, you can remove the brown colour to reveal a lighter coloured shell underneath. This is normal. If the eggs have been moved around by the hens in the nest box, some of the brown colour may have been scrapped off on the bedding.
On any eggs, it is not unusual to see odd colour specks and very tiny dots of slightly raised shell. Often these can be scraped off with your fingernail. Some of my hens lay lovely speckled eggs.
Always make sure your hens have access to grit. As long as your girls are well and there are no signs of injury around their rear-end, I wouldn't be too worried. If you are in any doubt, always seek professional advice.

All the best.

 

[Anonymous]

PS. To check for red mite, look in any small crevices around perches, nest boxes etc as this is where they tend to hide (they don't live on the bird). If you see clusters of red dots, crush them with you nail and you will see red liquid - that is blood sucked from your hens from the mite. This time of year, especially in this cold weather they don't tend to be a problem though. There is a very informative article about red-mite on the poultry keeper website.
Good Luck!