EEEEEEWWWWWWWWWW!

[seminolewind]

I moved my 4 pullets yesterday from one shed to another, carrying one at a time. Then I noticed there were little bugs on me, and......OMG!!!!! little straw colored elongated tiny bugs. I can't believe this is happening! I've had them 11 weeks. Do you think they've had lice since then? I never noticed anything on me or them till Yesterday.
Karen

 

[texaschickmama]

Um, do you use DE? Did they bite you?

 

[silkiechicken]

Chances are yes they have had them. Time to treat.

 

[Tuffoldhen]

It's very easy for chickens to get lice and mites..hard to say when they picked them up....they can be in the nooks and crannies of your coop, be carried in on strawbales.....You can dust them with 5% Sevin dust found at Wal-mart in shaker cans or 5lb bags I think...I use DE if you have that...also if you have a woodstove the wood ashes make good dusting where ever they dust bathe at...just dust them good and put some in their nestboxes and dusting places...probably have to re-treat...

 

[jjthink]

Hi Karen! I can understand your reaction! Perhaps only small consolation that chicken lice won't feast on humans or vice versa. That said, I'm feeling itchy just thinking about it!

Food grade DE if DE.

JJ

 

[Pinenot]

I noticed a bunch of little birds have been visiting my barn. I know that when they go in the barn, I have to treat for lice. Those wild birds bring in the lice, in my barn. I use seven to dust everything in the barn. It really works! I dust everything about every 3 months with it.

 

[FarmerDenise]

Sounds like mites to me. Wild birds will bring 'em to your chickens. My vet told me Bio-spot for cats is OK to use on chickens. Use just a little bit and don't eat the eggs. I have also used DE FLEA ((www.naturalchemistry.co, 1-800-668-7760) with my vets approval. The mites tend to stay on perches etc as well. So you'll need to spray all of that too.

P.s. my vet loves chickens and specializes in them. He's been great with my little Butika.

 

[seminolewind]

Its such a yucky thing to happen. I ran around yesterday poofing poultry pest powder all over them. I will buy some DE now.
I'm pretty sure they are lice from looking at pics on the web. They are light colored, and sort of long rather than wide. The pullets have been secluded from any other birds since they got here 11 weeks ago. I guess over an 11 week period my girls have gotten infested. Gosh, I never thought it would happen here, there were no other birds, even the run is covered. I think I will buy some sevin, too.

 

[silkiechicken]

You'd be surprised, that one little sparrow you didn't see could have easily dropped off a few lice...

 

[Tuffoldhen]

Yup...Bugs from wild bird, straw, hay, other farm animals.... anything can bring them in......more common than you think.......