Lice or Mites or what?

[kuntrychick]

We have 2 hens that we got not long ago that are still separated from the others.

One of them has really taken up with me and hubby and my son. I mean, she gets right up against us, gets on our shoulder and such. The other one won't even let me pet her.

Well, one of the hens, while I was petting her yesterday, I happened to part a few feathers because they're really looking bad..not sure if she's been molting I've read about on here or what. Well, I happen to see a few little teeny tiny tannish, goldish colored bugs crawling. I parted a few more feathers and didn't see any. Then, parted some in various places and saw some more...not a whole lot though.

We're still new to chickens, so I wasn't sure what this was. I was trying to locate her vent area among all the feathers and fluff and didn't really notice any of the bugs. I never found any egg mass at the base of any feathers.

All I have on hand is DE, so I dusted her with that the best I could. But, what does this sound like...lice, mites or what? What treatment should I use? I've read about Ivermectin on here, Adams Flea & Tick spray, Sevin dust, DE, etc. Which do I use and how do I apply it? I wasn't even sure how to put the DE on her but I put it in a stocking and patted it around on her and ruffled her feathers a little bit to help work it in the best I could.

Today when I looked at her, though, even though I saw much less bugs, I still saw a couple. I mean, literally, I parted feathers in several areas and I saw probably 4 or 5 of the little bugs. So, not sure if the DE helped or if the little bugs were just in different areas.

Edited to add: This hen has not been laying which i know lice and mites can affect egg laying. Also, of all the feathers she has, it's as if she has no feathers at all on her abdomen....I mean, it's not bare, it's like all of her other feathers are folded over it to protect it but still no actual feathers base and all on her abdomen.

 

[kuntrychick]

Anyone? It makes me itch just thinking about it.

 

[usschicago1]

I am NO expert. If it was mine here is what i would do.
Wash your bird with warm water and a drop of dish soap.
Go to the feedstore and bye some poultry dust.
Quarentine Bird and wash frequently,
Dust entire coop.
And wipe with vinegar (be safe)
And this was on the internet...
•5 mites counted = Bird may be carrying from 100 to 300 mites

•6 mites counted = Bird may be carrying from 300 to 1,000 mites (light infestation)

•7 mites counted = Bird may be carrying from 1,000 to 3,000 mites - small clumps of mites seen on skin and feathers (moderate infestation)

•8 mites counted = Bird may be carrying from 3,000 to 10,000 mites - accumulation of mites on skin and feathers (moderate to heavy infestation)

•9 mites counted = Bird may be carrying 10,000 to 32,000 or more mites - numerous large clumps of mites seen on skin and feathers; skin pocketed with scabs (heavy infestation)

MAybe somebody else could help you...
Edited to add
http://www.backyardpoultrymag.com/issues/2/2-5/Laura_E_John.html
& DE Cant hurt but go to the feedstore and ask A.S.A.P And ask for something else maybe to control them if that doesnt work
I have never had those mites but have a diffrent mites on my birds now i am working to get ride of myself.

 

[kuntrychick]

Thanks for replying.

So, is it mites or lice? Are they treated the same way regardless? I just thought mites were red or black and these little tiny bugs are almost golden color.

What is the correct way to wash a chicken? LOL Even though she'll let me hold her no problem, I don't know how she'd be with me washing her. She did not like me dusting her with the DE.

What is the correct way to dust a chicken?

 

[Imp]

This might help. Good luck

Imp

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

 

[kuntrychick]

Quote:
Thanks!

From that comparison chart at the bottom of that, it seems like from the color of what I'm seeing it's lice, but they don't seem to be fast moving. Every one I saw seemed to be moving pretty slowly.

Also, I haven't seen any of the egg masses at all.

Is that treatment for real...putting the bird in a garbage bag (with head sticking out) with Sevin or poultry dust or whatever and rotating/shaking it until the bird is covered? Wouldn't that be pretty traumatic for the bird?

When it mentioned a kitten flea spray...wouldn't the Adams Dog Flea & Tick Spray be ok? Can it be put directly on the bird or just sprayed around the coop and run?

Also, about the Sevin...it mentioned to remove feed and such. Well, chickens peck all over the ground so aren't they bound to eat some of the Sevin dust anyway?