Mites? Lice? or What? Help!

[Diamante]

Our chickens have some sort of mite or something on them. We tend to get one on us everytime we hold them for a few minutes. They are small grey, ive also seen a couple tan ones, long, skinny and flat. You cant hardly tell where the head is on the body. If you have any idea what they are how do i treat for them? The fastest cheapest way of treating is prefered. Thanks

 

[aoxa]

Could they be fleas? Either way, you need to treat them with louse/sevin dust.

It's really easy to do. Make sure you do it OUTSIDE and away from their food and water. I find if you have an available dust bath for your chickens, it reduces the likelihood of parasites.

 

[Alabama ee]

I would treat with Sevin dust. I do it once in a while as a prevention. I sprinkle it on each bird and make sure I rub it in to the base of the feather. When I clean ou the coop,
I sprinkle a little around. I put a little in the nest boxes before I put in the hay on top.

 

[Imp]

Here's some info on mites & lice:

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

Imp

 

[dawg53]

This will help you identify what external parasites you're dealing with:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig140

 

[Diamante]

By looking at the one site, its some sort of lice. Thanks for you help. Oh and yeah deff not a flea, lol.