Bugs Crawling Around Hen's Vent

[memerabbit]

I have two silkie hens and I noticed on both that they had small black (some are red) bugs crawling around the vent area. They are kept in a cage with wire and sawdust underneath the wire. They are both in a large cage together. They are let outside for about an hour a day always under my supervision. Their vents also look dirty, they both have droppings caked around the vent area. I don't know what they are or what to do about the bugs. Is there some way I can kill the bugs? And how do I figure out how they got them, they have not been in contact with any birds (except each other). Please help, these are my show birds.

 

[Eggcessive]

It sounds like they could be red mites, but it depends on the size. Permethrin spray or dust, or Sevin dust will kill the bugs on contact. Here are some links with pictures to read to make sure they are mites:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/laura_e_john/
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig140

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

They may also be lice. They tend to like to stay around moist places, like vents, and lay their eggs (nits) there. Then, when the birds defecate, some will typically stick to the nits and pile/cake up there.

If wild birds have access to wherever they're being kept, that's likely where they came from.

As advised in the previous post, permethrin spray or sevin dust will get rid of them. Clean any poo off and spray or dust them and their cage. Repeat in 7 days. If wild birds are accessing their quarters, figure out where they're entering and put a stop to it, or they'll just end up being infested again and again.

Good luck, they're icky, but not the end of the world

 

[memerabbit]

It sounds like they could be red mites, but it depends on the size. Permethrin spray or dust, or Sevin dust will kill the bugs on contact. Here are some links with pictures to read to make sure they are mites:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html
http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/laura_e_john/
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig140

The bug itself looks correct. However, I just spotted it (during the day) and these websites say it is active at night. If I treat them for the wrong mite, could it affect them negatively? Or should I try treating them for this?

 

[memerabbit]

They may also be lice. They tend to like to stay around moist places, like vents, and lay their eggs (nits) there. Then, when the birds defecate, some will typically stick to the nits and pile/cake up there.

If wild birds have access to wherever they're being kept, that's likely where they came from.

As advised in the previous post, permethrin spray or sevin dust will get rid of them. Clean any poo off and spray or dust them and their cage. Repeat in 7 days. If wild birds are accessing their quarters, figure out where they're entering and put a stop to it, or they'll just end up being infested again and again.

Good luck, they're icky, but not the end of the world

As far as I know they have not come in contact with any wild birds directly. However, there are small wild birds that fly over my house.

 

[Eggcessive]

Northern fowl mites can be found on the chickens during the daytime. I would try to figure out whether it is lice or mites. The seven dust and permethrin both will work on either. Lice can easily be brought in on a new bird. Also, mites can easily be brought in in the hollow core of hay or straw.

 

[memerabbit]

I bought some permethrin spray. Now what?

 

[Kikiriki]

This article describes different poultry parasites. At the bottom are pesticides approved for use with poultry and the pests they work on. (Sevin is not one of them)

http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig140

 

[Eggcessive]

I bought some permethrin spray. Now what?

Spray the areas lightly where you see the mites or dirt on the skin. I have used Seven dust on mine.

 

[memerabbit]

They are trying to "clean" themselves where I have sprayed them. They are arranging their feathers and may be ingesting it. How bad is that? What can I do?