feed mites?

[Superbird]

I opened a new 50# bag of game bird flier feed yesterday. When I dumped it into the garbage can I use for a food bin, I noticed it was real dusty. When I got to looking at it closer, it looked like some of it had been ground or chewed up into fine particals. Then I noticed little mite looking creatures on my hands. They were white or beige colored. Real small, but if you watched you could see them move. The next day there was more of this dust looking stuff on the top of the feed.I think it was what is left after these things broke it down.Like a part they did not eat. What are these things? Will they live on or hurt the quail? Any one ever had this?

Thanks for any help!!

[Jess]

Nasty. Never heared of it, though. My idea is, though, if they are eating the feed they probably won't be eating the birds??? Just a guess.

[stewaw]

Those mites came in your feed.  Remember, just because a bag of feed is "new" to you, it may have set at the store/feed mill for months.  The only harm they will do to your birds is that they are removing some of the important components of the feed.  The small amount of protein they provide doesn't make up for what you lost though. I say throw it out and start over.

David

[coveyrun]

All feed bags have a date code on them, you might ask your dealer where it is and how to read it. If it is old you might tell the dealer and he should replace it.