Causes of Mites & Lice?

[nipper75]

Does anyone know where chickens in a small backyard flock get mites and/or lice?

squirrels?
chipmunks?

 

[ChickensRDinos]

Mine got them once from the little wild city birds that sneak into my coop to eat the feed.

 

[nipper75]

Mine got them once from the little wild city birds that sneak into my coop to eat the feed.

I have a lot of squirrels and chipmunks... I wonder if they are the cause...

 

[ChickensRDinos]

I was under the impression that poultry mites and lice were specific to birds. I know dogs can't get them. But I have not looked into it too extensively so I am not sure.

 

[hallerlake]

Wild birds.

 

[nipper75]

Wild birds.

I guess wild birds leave them in the grass, leaves, etc.??? Are they "bird" specific?