Feather Mites?

[hiriki]

Hello!

I feel like a fool, because my cockatiel, Kibble, started plucking about... a year ago? Maybe. Around when I got her a new cage, which may actually be related as I suppose I didn't sanitize it like I should and I bought it used. I thought it was because she was stressed from going to the cage I adopted her in which she'd lived in for ~6 years (too small for a budgie even) to suddenly a small bird flight cage (it was intended to be a flight cage for budgies, definitely not a flight cage for a bird her size but still pretty large!) She never stopped, which I thought was... I mean, unfortunate obviously, but I thought it was kind of normal, because once they start it's hard to stop sort of thing.

Anyway, the reason I feel like a fool is because now it's spreading--she has a bald spot on TOP of her wing now--and when I googled it, the areas she started with (vent, chest/stomach, and under her wings) seem to be notorious mite locations?

I just ruled mites out because I also have a conure and two doves, the doves she has very little physical interaction with since they get separate flight time but their cage is right next to hers. The conure she won't cuddle with, but they definitely play. I figured if Kibble had mites, my other feather babies would certainly have mites too... and now it's been probably over a year, I guess I haven't been paying too much attention to time passed, but it's been a long time and none of my other birds show any signs of mites?

I mean, I guess probably the answer will be "treat them all for mites" one way or the other, just in case, but honestly right now I'm flat broke. I lost my job recently, and while I have a little bit left before my Care credit card hits its limit, I really don't have the funds for a ton of vet visits. And I absolutely already know over the counter mite treatments are not OK.

Like, this post is getting long but I have no clue what to do at this point. If this IS mites, which I thought wasn't really possible (foolish!), then is the appearance of a new bald spot on TOP of the wing indication that the infestation might be really bad now? If so, I have no choice but to go to the vet! Or is the weird location more an indication that it's probably stress plucking? Ugh, even if it is probably stress plucking, should I probably treat everyone for mites anyway? Also--I do have mammal pets too (2 cats and 2 rats), do they need to be treated for mites as well, just to be thorough? Like, oh my god, this is just really pretty sucky, but I want to make sure Kibble is healthy!

For now, as I finish up this post I plan to break down Kibble's cage and give it a bleach soak. My other bird cages don't break down but I'm going to disinfect them as thoroughly as I can as well including perches/toys/accessories... Basically, advice on how urgent a vet appointment is, as well as what I should go into the appointment expecting (just a skin check, or other things as well etc), and what I should expect to be prescribed for treatment... all of that would be appreciated. Things I can do with the environment once I'm done disinfecting would be nice.