Do Chickens eat Chiggers?

[Attila the Hen]

I've read that chickens are the chiggers preferred host. Others say chickens eat chiggers. We had a terrible problem with chiggers last year and I haven't been bitten this year (yet). Perhaps it is too soon in the season, maybe the severe winter weather cleared some out OR I'm hoping the chickens have eaten the little buggers.
Opinions please? I don't think I can spoil my free ranging chickens more than I do, but I'm willing to come up with something if I find they are eating chiggers.
Thank you

 

[ketcham]

This will be interesting to hear on this one.We don't get chiggers up here but they do in Maryland.Can't wait for a good response!!! Kevin saw a spider in the box yesterday and my flock had a blast with it.tore it up big time.Good size spider.

 

[dawg53]

Here's a link regarding chiggers. We call them redbugs around here.
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig085

 

[enola]

Can a chicken even SEE a chigger?

 

[Attila the Hen]

Thanks for responding. I have done a lot of reading up on the creatures since I had several episodes with them last year and read that link. However, I did not have my chickens free ranging last year and wondered if there is some experience others have had regarding chickens eating chiggers. I read on a blog that one person recalls growing up not dealing with chiggers on his grandparents farm where they had chickens.
They are the most irritating creatures. You can't see them and they drive you from your yard.

 

[crossgirl]

I was wondering about chiggers too. I saw someone here had used spanish moss for nest material and wondered too if chiggers bite chickens or if chickens bite chiggers.

 

[ranchhand]

Great.

Now I itch all over!

Several years ago, I had chiggers combined with poison ivy. Nearly lost my mind. oh wait, maybe I did.........

 

[dawg53]

I dont know if a chicken can see a chigger/redbug and eat it or not. I've never seen one. I know what they do when they get in your waistband area!!! However, we can see lice and mites on chickens and I've never seen a chicken trying to eat lice or mites. I HAVE seen a rooster preen his feathers and pull them out and take alot of dust baths as a result of a feather lice infestation. (I dusted him with sevin, problem was taken care of)

 

[justoldbobo2]

Was an answer ever figured out

 

[ageranger361]

Chiggers are very small but they can be see with the naked human eye if you look very carefully. They're about the size of the head of a small pin. They look like little tiny red spiders or crabs. I think chickens can see them if we can see them by they have very good vision and can pick up motion very easily. My GUESS is that they would do very well eating chiggers. I have them in our yard and I'll be free ranging the flock soon to see if they eat them up or not!