Chicken lice in my HAIR? Eeewwwwww!!!

[MrsClucky]

This morning, I was finally able to catch and pick up Mr. Schmellman, a very unpredictable and occasionally violent rooster I'd like to "tame." After holding him under my arm for several minutes, I released him and went about my business. A few minutes later, I felt things crawling in my hair.

I believe they were poultry lice (straw-colored creepy-crawlies, about 2-3 mms long) and have since washed them from my hair. I think there were about 6-7 on me.

Naturally, I will be dusting/spraying the chickens TONIGHT.

My question is this: since poultry lice are species-specific, why would they have jumped on me? I pick up and hold another rooster (in a different enclosure) all the time and have never gotten anything on me. Perhaps he doesn't have lice - don't know.

Just curious if this is just par for the course when keeping chickens or should I be concerned? These were definitely NOT human head lice but heebie-jeebie inducing just the same.

Any info/advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks! Bea

 

[Ridgerunner]

It took them a while to discover you are not a good host for them. They would eventually leave and not lay eggs. I fully agree with the heebie jeebies though.

This site might help you determine if they are mites or lice. Either one deserves the spray/dusty you plan for them.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

Good luck!!!

 

[melissastraka]

thanks...off to the showers!!!!