help!! how to tell if your bird has bugs

[mindyaw]

im not sure what kind of chicken she is she black and glems green and her feathers are outlined with a brownish color. but she has been staying in the coop the last 4 days (our chickens are free range) we have taken her out to make sure shes eating and drinking and she is she'll stay out of a while then run back in there an sleep in the nesting box instead of up top with the others. when she is out she flutters and pecks at her slef around her wings and neck i've only noticed this the last 2 days.if it is bugs how can i get rid of it an why don't any of the others show signs or anything. she is a skidish bird an hard to catch to look at her and would i be able to see the bugs??what causes bug?? if anyone can help it would be great and thank you..

 

[jessica117]

There is a possibility that she could be broody. I would still catch her and inspect for bugs just to be safe. You will want to kind of push the feathers in the wrong direction so that you can see all the way to her skin. Some bugs are big and others are really small but you should be able to see some signs of them (eggs, bug poo, or bugs themselves.) Try to check all over her body but pay extra attention to her vent area.

If bugs are the problem sevin dust will take care of them. Multiple applications will probably be necessary. How I do it is I get hubby to kind of hold the chicken and put the dust inside an old pillow case then put the pillow case inside a trash bag. Put the chicken inside with it's head out the hole. Hold the bag around it's neck and kind of fluff the bag to get the dust all over her. This helps to keep the dust from getting in the chicken's face. You will probably want to get a dust mask to wear because a bit of the dust will still get into the air. I would also sprinkle a bit into the areas that the chickens like to take their dust baths.

Hope this helps!