Omlet Smart Autodoor - New in box

[Groovychook]

I'm worried about my girls- wondering if they might have some sort of mites...

 

After sadly having to have one of our girls p.t.s. just over a week ago, (vet thought, in the end that she had peritonitis- as she hadn't responded to the course of baytril) I decided to bring forward the girls next course of flubenvet. This was completed at the weekend, but I noticed that the two araucana's had mucky bums, so set about bathing them today. Phyllis was worse than Hilda, and when I started to wash her, I noticed that some of the feathers around her vent, had small, black things stuck to the shaft (about the size of a pin head), which went right up the feather- not just at the base. They weren't in giant clusters either- just evenly spaced up the shaft. They weren't moving around and I had to tease apart the feathers to pick them off. I don't know if that was because the feathers were wet or if they were some sort of egg.

 

Hilda only seemed to have a few little specks and Elsie the maran had a clean bum and none at all. Elsie is looking a bit feather bare at the moment and I'd put that down to her going through a moult. I checked all three girls under their wings and around their necks and they seemed to be clear of any nasties.

 

I've had a look in the cube and there's no sign of any creepy crawlies and they happily go to bed in there every night. The girls are all laying normally too.

 

I've got some Johnson's 'Anti Mite Extra' spray, which I bought as a precaution ages ago but have never needed to use it. Should I spray the girls with it anyway & if so, should I just concentrate around the vent?

 

I've looked at the photo's in the F.A.Q's but couldn't see anything that looks like them. It's throwing me somewhat because they weren't moving around like living creatures!

 

I'm going to give the cube a thorough clean tomorrow, just in case there's anything lurking in there...

 

Sorry for the long post... any advice would be gratefully received.

[Forge Cottage]

Sounds like a job for a microscope. Hopefully they 'mite' just be mould spots or something...

[Groovychook]

Well, the cube has had a thorough scrub and there were no signs of any creepie crawlies...

 

The girls have been bathed, dusted with red mite powder and the dustbath has been re- diatomed. I inspected their knickers the day after bathing and couldn't see anything lurking in the feathers. I'm as confused as ever!

 

I'm going to have another look today- hopefully, OH will be around, so he can hold them whilst I have a look with a magnifying glass. I shall report back!