AACCCKKK! WHat are these bugs on my chickens?!?!?

92Pony

Songster
13 Years
Mar 1, 2010
166
16
226
South Carolina
My daughter discovered that our hens and rooster in one pen have mites or some sort of bug on them. I have 5 hens and one roo in this run/coop. They all have what looks almost like fleas... but they are latched on like ticks. They are in groups/patches around their faces, wattles, and under their necks. As I said, they look like fleas, but they don't appear to jump like fleas do.

What in the world is this, and how do I fix it?! I hate the thought of this.....
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I have two adjacent pens, but those birds don't appear to be infested (yet, I guess).


I've done some reading on here, but am not completely clear on whether I'm looking at mites, or some sort of flea, or what.


Thanks for potentially answering this question for the hundredth time!
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Wade
 
Without a picture, I'm not sure, but it sounds as if your birds are infested with stick tight fleas. I would guess that treatment with Ivermectin would give quickest and best results.
 
Whatever it is, get some Sevin dust and dust them tomorrow with a panty hose foot filled with the powder and use it like a pouf.

They'll be dead and falling off in an hour.
 
Sorry I didn't get a pic (and its dark out now). On the one hand, I'm a bit ashamed to post a pic.
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I googled "stick tight fleas" and it linked to a thread here (lol). It looks like thats exactly what they are - ugh! I'll be getting some sevin tomorrow!!

With the ivermectin, would that be the 'pour on' that I've seen referenced on here? If so, do you have to toss eggs for a period of time? EVEN if its not used internally? (That part confuses me)


Thanks!

Wade
 
Okay; I am now armed with Sevin dust and a pyrethrin-based concentrate. I plan to dust everyone with the Sevin, and soak down the coops with the spray in a pump sprayer.

For the fleas concentrated around the necks and faces, should I use my fingers to apply one or the other (Sevin or pyrethrin) directly to the pests? Should I go the veg oil or vaseline route?


Thanks in advance,


Wade
 
I just dusted them all over. Hold them by their legs and fluff under their feathers. You can use your finger to dust around their faces. Just remember to use gloves, a mask, and goggles when you do it.
 
Without seeing your reply first, I did just what you said.
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I held each one by her feet, and using latex-gloved hands, my daughter and I put the Sevin all in their feathers, and down to the skin all over. I tried to rub a little up around their faces/heads, but was very careful there also.

I soaked down the inside of all the coops; cracks, crevasses, roosts, as well as the ground (dirt floors). I also lightly dusted the nesting boxes with Sevin.

I plan to repeat this in a week.


Wade
 

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