are mites and lice contagious to us??

[mrcman]

A couple of my hens are loosing feathers in one concentrated area and I thought I should check them for lice or mites. I was curious whether me or the wife can become infected with them. (lice and mites) If so, is there a proper way to check my birds so we don't get infected? We're kinda new to all this. Thanks, Tony

 

[Dar]

nope you are fine...

the lice and mites are species specific... but they can and will crawl on you but wont live and thrive like on poultry..

when i had chickens i bought from auction i quarantine them in the basement in a pen. I had a batch that had lice.. i cared for them down there and not even my dogs or cats were affected

 

[mrcman]

Dar,

Thanks for the reply. We'll check them out first thing in the morning.

Tony

 

[welasharon]

Someone posted on here before that "you may feel them crawling on you....but that's just cause they are hunting the chicken at the end of your arm." It made me feel better!

 

[dawg53]

The Red Chicken Mite can be a problem to humans:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig140

 

[welasharon]

Dawg! That did not make me feel better!

 

[Dar]

Quote:
we dont have those suckers here.. its to cold

 

[mrcman]

Hi folks,

Well, The wife and I checked three of the eight hens that seemed most affected and found no infestation. Seems hard for me to believe that they could be molting this time of the year in our location. (N.W. Pa.) I'll have to keep a close eye on them and see what happens. Thanks for your help.

Tony