new bug

[trudyg]

So I've got bugs in the pdz on the poop tray. I'm trying to get a picture, but my phone camera is terrible and they are very fast and blend in well with the grayish pdz. They are small, not 1/2" long, move very fast and have a hooked tail like a scorpion. I didn't see pincers like a scorpion but only the tail. A quick search said pseudo scorpion, but the pincers on those were much bigger.

I was away for several days, so the poop had accumulated (chicken sitter would only gather eggs and replenish food/water). As I'm scooping these bugs are running all over, so I guess they were under the poop? Maybe they like the moisture?

I did a real good scoop job and then, since they were running all over, doused them with fly spray since the can was right there, it killed the ones I saw, but I'm sure there are more. A full removal of pdz will have to wait until the weekend, but I will put sevin into the pdz tonight. I hadn't planned on a deep cleaning until next month and just put out new bedding (they are not in the bedding anywhere). It's been very wet here, too, if that makes a difference.

I snagged a couple of hens and they did not have any bugs on them, but I haven't checked all of them. I'm hoping they are attracted to the poop only and not the birds. Any thoughts? I'll take the real camera out with me today and try to get a better picture (hoping the spray killed them all and they're gone).

 

[Shanny123]

Pincer bugs maybe? They like water and dampness. Keeping it dry should make them move on, hopefully.

 

[staceyj]

Is this it?

 

[staceyj]

If so, there a kind of earwig.
Which sounds even worse than pinched bug.
I hate them.
They love moist dark places.

 

[Shanny123]

That's them. Yes. They are fast movers. One came out of our kitchen sink drain recently, that's the only one I've seen here. (Shudder! ) Don't like them at all. Good luck!

 

[Shanny123]

So I've got bugs in the pdz on the poop tray. I'm trying to get a picture, but my phone camera is terrible and they are very fast and blend in well with the grayish pdz. They are small, not 1/2" long, move very fast and have a hooked tail like a scorpion. I didn't see pincers like a scorpion but only the tail. A quick search said pseudo scorpion, but the pincers on those were much bigger.

I was away for several days, so the poop had accumulated (chicken sitter would only gather eggs and replenish food/water). As I'm scooping these bugs are running all over, so I guess they were under the poop? Maybe they like the moisture?

I did a real good scoop job and then, since they were running all over, doused them with fly spray since the can was right there, it killed the ones I saw, but I'm sure there are more. A full removal of pdz will have to wait until the weekend, but I will put sevin into the pdz tonight. I hadn't planned on a deep cleaning until next month and just put out new bedding (they are not in the bedding anywhere). It's been very wet here, too, if that makes a difference.

I snagged a couple of hens and they did not have any bugs on them, but I haven't checked all of them. I'm hoping they are attracted to the poop only and not the birds. Any thoughts? I'll take the real camera out with me today and try to get a better picture (hoping the spray killed them all and they're gone).

I don't think they'd want the hens. Think they're after the poop. I think they're hardy bugs, meaning hard to kill. Wonder if hens will eat them. Hope if they do, won't hurt them.

 

[staceyj]

They are drawn to moisture. They like bathrooms and laundry rooms and basements.
They love to get under pet food and water bowls.

They don’t sting and aren’t poisonous either which is good.
Occasionally my cat will find one and watch it with great fascination and play with it a bit... sometimes until it’s dead, but I’ve never seen him eat one. They must taste yucky. I know they crunch when you squish them.

If you’re having a bunch of them maybe it’s time to change out your pdz.

 

[Shanny123]

What is pdz?

 

[Shanny123]

Maybe you're referring to pine shavings or straw?

 

[staceyj]

Pdz is zeolite. A mineral.
It’s sold as a “horse stall refresher” or coop refresher the texture is like fine clumping cat litter except it doesn’t clump.