My chickens have lice!!!

[Acre4Me]

I washed them yesterday after work, they’re actually really good for baths especially my silkies they really like baths (they don’t fuss at all) I made sure I blow dried them really good since it was calling for a cooler night. They’re still a little oily but I’m sure them dust bathing will help with the rest.

I have a question about where the lice came from? I have 3 fixed rabbits too that free roam in my shed (they’re not in direct contact with the chickens) I’ve checked them over and have found no lice on them - however there have been some mice living in my feed room this winter thats inside the shed, I’ve set traps and have caught 2 so far. Could the lice come from the mice?

Usually poultry lice (which are different than human/mammal lice) come from wild birds.

We’ve had a couple instances of lice. But, now that wild birds cannot get into our setup as easily, we haven’t had any instances.

 

[Folly's place]

Those cute wild songbirds bring lice and/ or mites, when either they visit in the coop, or hang around outside near the chickens. It's a constant battle here...
Mary

 

[MCchickies]

Usually poultry lice (which are different than human/mammal lice) come from wild birds.

We’ve had a couple instances of lice. But, now that wild birds cannot get into our setup as easily, we haven’t had any instances.

That’s the weird thing tho because there are no wild birds that can get into the coop, they’re currently inside fully as we haven’t set up the outdoor run yet. I take them outside after work for a bit for acouple of hours to free roam but they’re always monitored. Could they have gotten the mites from being outside?

 

[aart]

That’s the weird thing tho because there are no wild birds that can get into the coop, they’re currently inside fully as we haven’t set up the outdoor run yet. I take them outside after work for a bit for acouple of hours to free roam but they’re always monitored. Could they have gotten the mites from being outside?

Did you get them as day old chicks?

 

[Acre4Me]

That’s the weird thing tho because there are no wild birds that can get into the coop, they’re currently inside fully as we haven’t set up the outdoor run yet. I take them outside after work for a bit for acouple of hours to free roam but they’re always monitored. Could they have gotten the mites from being outside?

Yes, it’s possible bc they are sharing the same environment as the birds, even for a short time.

 

[MCchickies]

Did you get them as day old chicks?

I rescued the one silkie at 8 weeks and quarantined her for two weeks before getting more, 2 weeks later I got 4 more chicks (8 weeks old) and quarantined them. I just recently got some 12 week chicks and quarantined them before putting them with my current flock - they were the only two that didn’t have any lice which I thought was odd

 

[aart]

I rescued the one silkie at 8 weeks and quarantined her for two weeks before getting more, 2 weeks later I got 4 more chicks (8 weeks old) and quarantined them. I just recently got some 12 week chicks and quarantined them before putting them with my current flock - they were the only two that didn’t have any lice which I thought was odd

Chances are the bugs came in with some of these birds.
BTDT.

 

[MCchickies]

Chances are the bugs came in with some of these birds.
BTDT.

Oh wow even with quarantining?

 

[aart]

Oh wow even with quarantining?

Was my first flock, didn't know until I slaughtered a cockerel and it was covered in lice.
Never had mites tho(knock wood)....but have never gotten new birds other than hatching from my flock or day olds from farm stores.

 

[McChooky]

Oh wow even with quarantining?

The eggs hatched.