Best part of anatomy to do mite/lice check?

[Henriettamom919]

My pullets are at that age where they're convinced everything's going to kill them; they'll go from crawling all over me, allowing pets, etc to shrieking bloody murder if I have to pick one up or restrain them.

What's the best part of chicken anatomy to do a quick and dirty mite/lice check? I was thinking near the rear where the back meets the tail plume? I'm trying to be as quick and efficient as possible as they won't be still for long.

We have two indoor/outdoor cats so I don't want to bust out the permethrin without confirmation of critters.

Thanks in advance!

 

[TRThompson]

Check around the vent and under there wings.

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Yes, under wings and around the vent seem to be hit spot for mites.

Or if you have a bearded breed, around the beard or muffs is also where a lot of mites gather.

 

[BantyChooks]

I like to check under the wings, under the hackles, and under the back feathers near the uropygial gland. I don't check around the vent, generally, because sometimes it's pretty dirty back there and I don't want my hands in that.

 

[Henriettamom919]

Okay y'all, I'm going in *puffs up chest and hitches up pants*

Thank you very much!

 

[CJLR]

If they do have mites/ lice then Manna Pro poultry protector works wonders

 

[Henriettamom919]

All clear

They're all getting their adult feathers though and the base of the quill looks so odd to me! Compared to my layers, that is. They all eventually relaxed into me so I took advantage and stroked them a bit before releasing each one. My Ameraucana started falling asleep

 

[Folly's place]

At night, with a small flashlight is easiest. Hate those rotten little bugs!
Mary

 

[casportpony]

There are many types of lice, so check all of the places that the species of lice live. I always check vent, legs, wings, neck, chest, and head.

Main species of lice on domestic birds
Cuclotogaster heterographa, the head louse, is about 2.5 mm long and is found mainly on the head and the neck of birds. It prefers to stay close to the skin or at the base of the feathers. It does not suck blood, but feeds on skin and feather debris. It is more frequent on young birds and turkeys. Heavy infested birds may even die before maturity.

Eomenacanthus stramineus (= Menacanthus stramineus), the chicken body louse is the most common species on domestic birds, and probably the most damaging one. It is rather large (2.5 to 3.5 mm long) and of a brownish color. It feeds mainly on feather debris, but is capable of sucking blood. It lives mostly on the skin of birds, seldom on the feathers, and prefers body parts with few feathers, e.g. around the vent, although in case of heavy infestations it may be found also on the head, under the wings and on the chest. The eggs are laid in clusters on the feathers or directly on the kin.

Goniocotes gallinae, the fluff louse, is one of the smallest lice of poultry, only 0.8 to 1.5 mm long. It is found all over the birds' body, but less densely on the head and the wings, on the fluff or base of the feathers. It also feeds mainly on feather debris.

Lipeurus caponis, the wing louse, is 2.0 to 2.5 mm long, and has a grayish color. It is found mainly in the inner part of wing, tail and head feathers. It only feeds on parts of the feathers, but so intensively, that is also called the depluming louse.

Menopon gallinae, the shaft louse, is rather small (1.5 to 2.0 mm long). It feeds mainly on skin and feather debris, but may also suck blood from the wounds it produces. It prefers the chest, the shoulders and the back of birds. Eggs are whitish and are laid often in clusters at the base of the feathers.

Columbicola columbae, the slender pigeon louse, is 2.0 to 2.8 mm long. It can be found all over the body, especially at the inner side of the wing feathers. It feeds on feather debris. Eggs are laid preferentially are the small feathers under the wings.
Source: https://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2655&Itemid=2933

 

[Henriettamom919]

There are many types of lice, so check all of the places that the species of lice live. I always check vent, legs, wings, neck, chest, and head.
View attachment 1812441
View attachment 1812440

Main species of lice on domestic birds
Cuclotogaster heterographa, the head louse, is about 2.5 mm long and is found mainly on the head and the neck of birds. It prefers to stay close to the skin or at the base of the feathers. It does not suck blood, but feeds on skin and feather debris. It is more frequent on young birds and turkeys. Heavy infested birds may even die before maturity.

Eomenacanthus stramineus (= Menacanthus stramineus), the chicken body louse is the most common species on domestic birds, and probably the most damaging one. It is rather large (2.5 to 3.5 mm long) and of a brownish color. It feeds mainly on feather debris, but is capable of sucking blood. It lives mostly on the skin of birds, seldom on the feathers, and prefers body parts with few feathers, e.g. around the vent, although in case of heavy infestations it may be found also on the head, under the wings and on the chest. The eggs are laid in clusters on the feathers or directly on the kin.

Goniocotes gallinae, the fluff louse, is one of the smallest lice of poultry, only 0.8 to 1.5 mm long. It is found all over the birds' body, but less densely on the head and the wings, on the fluff or base of the feathers. It also feeds mainly on feather debris.

Lipeurus caponis, the wing louse, is 2.0 to 2.5 mm long, and has a grayish color. It is found mainly in the inner part of wing, tail and head feathers. It only feeds on parts of the feathers, but so intensively, that is also called the depluming louse.

Menopon gallinae, the shaft louse, is rather small (1.5 to 2.0 mm long). It feeds mainly on skin and feather debris, but may also suck blood from the wounds it produces. It prefers the chest, the shoulders and the back of birds. Eggs are whitish and are laid often in clusters at the base of the feathers.

Columbicola columbae, the slender pigeon louse, is 2.0 to 2.8 mm long. It can be found all over the body, especially at the inner side of the wing feathers. It feeds on feather debris. Eggs are laid preferentially are the small feathers under the wings.
Source: https://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2655&Itemid=2933

I checked everywhere but the chests! I'll check those areas tonight on my girls. So far, so good, though. Clean as little whistles!

I did laugh out loud next to the top photos where it says "not to scale"! All I could think it's "Thank God, if they were that big I'd run away crying!"

Thank you so much for this; I've bookmarked it for future reference!