Help!!! Some kind of bug in chicken coop!!

[Ilovechickens119]

hi everyone!!
I was just wondering whether you could help me.
I was just about to put my girls to bed this evening, and (as 2 of them are new) they live in 2 separate coops for now. Anyways, on one of my coops I noticed lots of little red bugs (not like the couler of mites more a soft red) and on the other I noticed lots of wood coloured bugs. I panicked and now my girls are in a cage in my ventilated shed with hay and blankets!!
Anyone have any idea what these bugs are? Are they dangerous?!
Thanks!

 

[DobieLover]

Welcome to BYC!
Can you take post some pictures?

 

[Ilovechickens119]

Welcome to BYC!
Can you take post some pictures?

I will in the morning.
Thanks so much

 

[Ilovechickens119]

Welcome to BYC!
Can you take post some pictures?

Do you have any idea of what they could be?

 

[DobieLover]

Do you have any idea of what they could be?

The red ones sound like mites. The wood colored ones could be lice or a wood destroying insect.
Regardless, I would recommend you purchase some Permethrin 10% solution. This is what you would use to kill off the infestation on and in the coops. I would also very carefully check your birds over for mites and/or lice.

 

[Ilovechickens119]

Thank you so much - oh dear! What do I do if I find mites on my girls?

 

[Alaskan]

I like the permethrin spray better than a powder. Just easier to use.

I have found a strong spray labeled for horses, and a lower dose spray labeled for puppies and kittens.

Just check ingredients.

But first figure out what you have.

You can also Google "chicken lice" and "chicken mites" to find good photos.

It is nice to know what you have because the mites mean that you need to be VERY CAREFUL and do an anal type coop cleaning especially in all of the tiny cracks and such.

Lice means a decent coop cleaning is good enough.

 

[Ilovechickens119]

I like the permethrin spray better than a powder. Just easier to use.

I have found a strong spray labeled for horses, and a lower dose spray labeled for puppies and kittens.

Just check ingredients.

But first figure out what you have.

You can also Google "chicken lice" and "chicken mites" to find good photos.

It is nice to know what you have because the mites mean that you need to be VERY CAREFUL and do an anal type coop cleaning especially in all of the tiny cracks and such.

Lice means a decent coop cleaning is good enough.

Thank you so much

 

[aart]

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).


@Ilovechickens119 please add your location to your profile.
It's easy to do, (laptop version shown), then it's always there!