Chicken Flees???

[redbird123]

Sunday I was outside doing many things. One of them cleaing up the chicken coop area as well as cutting down some overgrown weeds on my side yard. in the last few days I was bitten by something that now looks as though it was flees. My wife and my cat that remains indoors at all time do not have any bites or itching. Since I do most of the chicken duties is it possible that they have flees??? My hens do not seem to be scratching... Hmmmm.

 

[Nif]

Chickens usually get poultry mites and poultry lice. You need to inspect their bellies and near the vent to see if you notice any evidence of eggs on the shafts of the feathers...or base of the feathers. You might also see bugs. Lice are light brown and a few mm long and move very fast. Mites are easier to see at night, after the chickens have gone up to roost. They are much smaller but can be seen and are darker in color.
I attached a link to a fact sheet, hope you find it helpful.
http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

 

[redbird123]

Thanks for the link. I will check them when I get home today to see if they have either. One other question. I have read about Food grade DE being used to keep like that away. I can't figure out where to get some???

 

[LarryPQ]

Oh thank goodness, I thought the chickens were running away.

 

[Nif]

LareePQG

 

[Nif]

LareePQG

redbird...I answered your DE question on another thread.