ChickyHawk
Songster
- Dec 23, 2018
- 31
- 53
- 101
A few weeks ago I was either bit or stung by some type of insect in my backyard while placing my fist on the ground. At first I couldnt see a wound, just a very tiny red dot - no blood came from it. It hurt very badly. The pain continued to increase for 7-8 minutes, on up to my shoulder. It then area itched. The next few days my knuckles on that hand hurt when touched. After a few days it seemed to be all resolved then a week or so later the puncture site had a raised welt on it where there was previously nothing. Accompanied by some mild itching that comes and goes. Also, I've been a little dizzy at times over the past few days, but I'm not sure if that is related.
Anyhow my sister's boyfriend is trying to convince me that I was bitten by an insect in association with my backyard chickens. He argues that rats are disease invested creations who are attracted to my chicken's feed (which is secure within their coop). There are mites, or insects on the rats, which then find their way to my chickens (they are in an enclosed run), and my yard, and eventually to me. He suggests I was bitten by one of these insects and that I need antibiotics or medical treatment. He referenced some actress that he said this exact thing happened to recently, and who had the exact same symptoms. He couldn't remember her name. But that he had heard it was due to her backyard chickens harboring harmful insects.
By the way, I am a 39 yea old average weight female with no health problems. The dizziness came after our region experienced several swaying earthquakes. I read that aftershocks can evoke equilibrium dysfunction up to 4 months after an earthquake. My theory is that the dizziness is from that. I have no fever or other symptoms of infection.
My question is: Is there any validity to his claims. Unfortunately for my sister, the boyfriend is a bit of a fearmonger, I have to say, but I don't want to totally discount what he says. I'm on my first flock right now, so I'm just a newbie. I had read that it is necessary for the hens to take dust baths to keep them free of such pests - mine do that. They are laying normally. Of 5 laying hens we usually get 5/day. Sometimes 4, occasionally 3. I want to hear what people more experienced than me have to say. What do you think?
Anyhow my sister's boyfriend is trying to convince me that I was bitten by an insect in association with my backyard chickens. He argues that rats are disease invested creations who are attracted to my chicken's feed (which is secure within their coop). There are mites, or insects on the rats, which then find their way to my chickens (they are in an enclosed run), and my yard, and eventually to me. He suggests I was bitten by one of these insects and that I need antibiotics or medical treatment. He referenced some actress that he said this exact thing happened to recently, and who had the exact same symptoms. He couldn't remember her name. But that he had heard it was due to her backyard chickens harboring harmful insects.
By the way, I am a 39 yea old average weight female with no health problems. The dizziness came after our region experienced several swaying earthquakes. I read that aftershocks can evoke equilibrium dysfunction up to 4 months after an earthquake. My theory is that the dizziness is from that. I have no fever or other symptoms of infection.
My question is: Is there any validity to his claims. Unfortunately for my sister, the boyfriend is a bit of a fearmonger, I have to say, but I don't want to totally discount what he says. I'm on my first flock right now, so I'm just a newbie. I had read that it is necessary for the hens to take dust baths to keep them free of such pests - mine do that. They are laying normally. Of 5 laying hens we usually get 5/day. Sometimes 4, occasionally 3. I want to hear what people more experienced than me have to say. What do you think?
