Bugs on my birds...Please help

[alston83]

I was holding one of my hens and noticed a few little milky white bugs crawling on her, as well as quite a few smaller ones (same color) attached to the base of the feathers. What are they and what can I do to get rid of them? They are all large breed layers, 13 total in this coop. All suggestions will be highly appreciated, but please also include the amounts of the product to use and how often. I know there are many brilliant chicken owners on here.... to please help.

 

[lightchick]

They are probably lice or mites. You can treat them with poultry dust that you should be able to find at your local feed store.

 

[TheEggCollecter]

Sounds like mites...

 

[alston83]

Do I just dust them lightly, or do I need to work it into the feathers with my fingers?

 

[lightchick]

You dust them under their wing and under their tail. You'll need to rub it in a little bit.

 

[blucoondawg]

You can also get liquid permethrin in 10% strength at most farm stores, you mix up a light solution with water and either spray them or dip them, being careful not to submerge their head of course. After you treat the birds use the rest to treat the coop, if you don't treat the coop you likely won't get rid of them. Also re treat in 10 days or so to kill the bugs that hatch from existing eggs