Kids getting bug bites from chickens...?

[robdarla]

We have 7 Seramas, 2 Buff Orpingtons, 2 white Light Brahmas. My question is that every time my kids go in the chicken pen to pet and hold there chickens later that day I will see bug bites on there armpits, legs & arms…That itch like a mosquito bite? I don't see any bugs or fleas on the chickens... I am not sure what they might be…lice..? Is there something I should look for? Or is there a common bug that I am not able to see with out a microscope? I have cleaned the house out completely and put in all new cedar chips so the bedding and floor area is all new...? HELP!

 

[DTchickens]

gnats, mosquitoes, etc.. Stay around chickens sometimes... Why i don't even go outside in late evening or early early morning because they'res so many outside (i doubt that's because of chickens though).. Spray the kids with some bug spray before you let them go out..

 

[crazy huhn]

It can be mites or lice. I would use Some Poultry dust on the chickens or safer DE in the wood shavings. Please research about the Cedar shavings here on BYC.

to BYC

 

[rhodiegal]

May also be chiggers. They like armpits, waistband area, sock area, etc. We had a horrible rash of them this spring and summer. DE seemed to help.

 

[Sillystunt]

some mites come out at night. Lice you will see clusters of eggs on and near their vent. Seven dust is the best to get rid of it! DE is more preventitive. Check the chickens at night and see if you see little bugs on them.

 

[robdarla]

Thank you all for your of ideas and thoughts of what it may be...!

I will try the seven dust and reply back on what we find. Sure hope it works! This whole process has be killing my kids..Not to be able to get back in there with there chicks

 

[chevydmax04]

make sure they have an area with loose dirt where they can dust themselves. That is how they stay parasite free.

 

[MandyH]

I don't know what area you reside in, but in the South chiggers are a pain in the arse. They will make you CRAZY trying to scratch the bites. The best, fastest, easiest relief is to bathe in bath water with bleach in it as soon as you come inside from any suspected infested places. This time of the year when we are doing food plots and all that for deer season we bathe in bleach water ASAP after leaving the woods.

 

[Judy]

Ummmm, cedar is toxic to chickens. Agree with crazy huhn. You need to get it out of there. Can use pine or other hardwood shavings, hay, straw, many other things, but not cedar. I would get "poultry dust" from the feed store and shake it around; usually it is permethrins or pyrethrins or both.

 

[DTchickens]

Quote:
Depends on where you have the cedar i think, if it's in a roomy/airy area it's not a problem. I've experienced it first hand.. But most people who say it is toxic have enclosed areas.. Before i came to BYC i didn't even hear it was toxic and thought it was "The stuff" since everyone used it i knew..

I stick to good ol' hay though.