Chicken lice!!!! Please help!!

[PennyM16]

So hopefully she hasn't been around your other birds yet?
You'll have to keep an eye on her, get some permethrin and treat every 7 days for a few weeks to make sure you got them all.

Bug Blurb from my notes:
Have you checked them over real well for mites and/or lice?

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Great post about mites:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

She has been around then a little, but only for a few minutes free ranging

 

[Folly's place]

So treat everyone with permethrin, because they may have lice too. One louse is too many!
Mary

 

[PennyM16]

So treat everyone with permethrin, because they may have lice too. One louse is too many!
Mary

Ok where would I get it? And is it like a spray?

 

[aart]

Ok where would I get it? And is it like a spray?

Gordons10 at Tractor Supply...are you in the USA?

 

[PennyM16]

Gordons10 at Tractor Supply...are you in the USA?

Yes

 

[ChickNanny13]

I have a problem with very tiny black bugs in my coop. I have to go in there with a plastic bag on my head and them wash up and put my clothes in the washer or those pests start biting me. Are they lice too or something else?

You may want to start another thread ... Are they on your chickens too? Are you sure it's black? Try wiping down the roost with a white paper towel, does it show up red, like blood? There's a difference between mites and lice ... Mites are tiny, usually found at the vent area, under the wings, lice are long & usually on the feather shaft.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I have a problem with very tiny black bugs in my coop. I have to go in there with a plastic bag on my head and them wash up and put my clothes in the washer or those pests start biting me. Are they lice too or something else?

Are the tiny black bugs biting your birds too? Could be buffalo gnats, some people are having a terrible time with them.
You may need to add a fan to circulate more air.

 

[PennyM16]

Update: yay! She is better now and (hopefully) lice free. Although I checked her pretty thoroughly and didnt see any so I think we’re good

 

[ChickNanny13]

Are the tiny black bugs biting your birds too? Could be buffalo gnats, some people are having a terrible time with them.
You may need to add a fan to circulate more air.

I read about those, some are being affected by "gnats" killings their birds. It would be nice if everyone had their location in their profile, helps knowing areas affected.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I read about those, some are being affected by "gnats" killings their birds. It would be nice if everyone had their location in their profile, helps knowing areas affected.

Location does help From what I understand the gnats are pretty rough this year. I think every year there are deaths, but some years worse than others I suppose. Either way, sad news for the backyard keeper. I don't know if that's what is biting/swarming @Ms Clucky but my understanding is the gnats like to bit anything.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/gnats-killing-birds.1305726/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/protecting-chickens-from-killer-black-flies-buffalo-gnats/
https://blog.mcmurrayhatchery.com/2...-alert-black-fly-buffalo-gnat-poultry-deaths/