My coop has bugs and meat birds are too be slaughtered in a week or 2

[motherhen]

I found tiny little brown bugs inside the coop and its freaking me out. I want to get rid of them safely yet I don't want to use pesticides because of my meats. These are my first and last 2 meat birds and I want to be able to eat them. I do have other layers that are still young and haven't layed yet. I want to handle the bug situation with out giving pesticides.
Do I need to empty the coop and spray? I am using straw should I change to chips. My pen is enclosed and it has shade. No wild birds can get in so I am wondering how I got these bugs or did they just crawl in?
Any help from any one that has had this situation before would be wonderful.
I love having my chickens and I don't want to stop just because of this hurddle.

 

[justusnak]

I would completely empty the coop....if you can get some DE, that would be great...dust the entire coop with it...nest boxes, roosts, flooring. I saw another post about some "Orange oil spray" Im pretty sure its not a harsh chemical, and you can get it at ace hardware. I have not used it..but I would imagine it would smell great! Are the bugs ON the chickens? Lice? Mites? Can you get a pic of the bug?

 

[silkiechicken]

Yeah, what kinds of bugs are these? Are these on your birds or just little buggies that found a warm home in the coop? I got bugs all over and in my coops... but not on my birds. The chickens eat up the bugs they can catch. If they are just regular ground bugs, they won't harm anything.

By all means though, if these bugs are pest type and can effect the health of your birds, use poultry dust or DE on the birds and clean out the litter.

 

[mamaboyd]

We have noticed an invasion of little brown/beige ayphids(sp?) They are everywhere, in our house, outside etc. I think they are from the crop fields from the hay,wheat etc. They don't seem to be biting and aren't really harming anything, but annoying when they are in the house. My chickens are loving them!! Maybe the same thing as what you have?

 

[EurekaSouth]

Yes, DE would be good, or sevin dust, you can get that at ACE hardware, as well as the diatomaceous earth. And yes, it would be on the safe side to use shavings, or something besides straw or hay where the mites (if that's what they are) can hide inside the pieces during the day...you'll be fine, good luck!

 

[SandraChick]

DE is your best bet. Make sure it's food grade.

Sevin dust can be used in a pinch...but IT DOES have chemicals.

Orange oil is just that...orange oil. It can be used on chickens legs for scaley mites...but you can't "spray the bird". It works well to spray it on the wood work.

I personally use orange oil and all the wood in the coop and then use DE everywhere else....It's ALL ORGANIC.

Sandra

 

[Napalongtail]

Orange Guard!! Contact Verlin or Wes in texas over at the EZ board version of this site. Its all Organic and so totally safe. It can be used on the birds and the coops. Good Luck.

 

[Rosalind]

Are you sure the bugs are harmful? Chickens eat a lot of bugs. Mine eat just about any kind of beetle, worm or larvae, and also woodlice/sowbugs.

I dust with food-grade DE when I'm changing their litter, but that's about it. No problems with any other bugs.

 

[motherhen]

I think the bugs are mites or lice. They are really tiny. The bigger bugs don't bother me, but these bugs are really tiny. I have seen a few on the birds and that bothers me. I want them to be comfortable.
About this orange oil. Its not wood cleaner is it? Sorry, if that's a dumb question. What brand should I be looking for. I want something that is easy to use to spray.
Also, I found DE that has the brand insecticidal or something close to it. It doesn't say food grade and it doesn't have a list show other contents. It does say how much silica is has but I just don't know if its okay. Everyone says the container should say food safe, this doesn't day it and it comes in a white plastic jug. This is what the food supply store sells and they say its safe to eat. Any thought would be good.

 

[Poison Ivy]

http://orangeguard.com/

Orange guard ace hardware carries it now.

DE should say Food Grade on the bag if not its the wrong stuff.