The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: WoodlandsDevon on April 22, 2014, 01:52:39 pm

Title: Mite eggs on egg shell?
Post by: WoodlandsDevon on April 22, 2014, 01:52:39 pm

I've just seen some tiny white eggs stuck to a soiled chicken egg. Could these be red mite eggs? I looked really hard and some of them were moving. So maybe they're lice?/ Anyone got any ideas what they could be and how to get rid of them? I haven't given any of these chickens on- bird mite treatment for a year so maybe it's time to get the spray out!
Thanks

Title: Re: Mite eggs on egg shell?
Post by: benkt on April 22, 2014, 01:56:06 pm

Are you sure its not just calcium deposits? I see that infrequently but have never had mite eggs on them.
There's a fairly good picture of calcium deposits here: http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/587562/too-much-calcium (http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/587562/too-much-calcium)

Title: Re: Mite eggs on egg shell?
Post by: chrismahon on April 22, 2014, 02:05:38 pm

They could be lice eggs WD, in which case you had better check the vents of all your hens in that coop. Red mite eggs are laid in cracks in darkness. They could be a combination of mites or lice and Calcium deposits as Benkt suggests.

Title: Re: Mite eggs on egg shell?
Post by: Fleecewife on April 22, 2014, 06:11:32 pm

Or as they're moving, maybe mites which haven't had a blood meal, which tend to be grey.  Because the egg is wet when laid, mites can get stuck onto the shell as it dries.
Do you have a magnifying glass to look at them through?