- Oct 13, 2010
- 8
- 0
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Hi, I have been reading this forum for some time, but only recently had to post. I have a bug in the coop, and, it doesn't seem to be a mite, lice, flea or tick from what I can tell. I am thinking of treating with DE but, here it's wet / raining alot and I am not sure it will work.
It is a smalll, black bug. Literally 2 mm or smaller. There are NONE in the nesting boxes. It lives only on the coop floor, likes to be under the poop under the roosts.
I thought fleas - it's small, seems to jump but, the chickens are not acting "off" and, it's not in their bedding at all - 0 - none.
I now spread bedding (pine shavings) under the roosts, and that has decreased, but not eliminated the population of these "things".
I am not sure whether or not I need to take more or different steps? The birds seem fine (we've been trying to clear out the bugs with excessive coop cleaning, and layering bedding under the roosts for several weeks now).
FWIW I live in the pacific n.w. and my ladies are simply 6 ISA reds. They are 2 and a half years old, we got them as pullets. No bugs whatsoever all last year, these critters started about 4 weeks ago.
Thanks for ANY help. The knowledge on these boards has already much impressed me (and saved me alot of grief!)
It is a smalll, black bug. Literally 2 mm or smaller. There are NONE in the nesting boxes. It lives only on the coop floor, likes to be under the poop under the roosts.
I thought fleas - it's small, seems to jump but, the chickens are not acting "off" and, it's not in their bedding at all - 0 - none.
I now spread bedding (pine shavings) under the roosts, and that has decreased, but not eliminated the population of these "things".
I am not sure whether or not I need to take more or different steps? The birds seem fine (we've been trying to clear out the bugs with excessive coop cleaning, and layering bedding under the roosts for several weeks now).
FWIW I live in the pacific n.w. and my ladies are simply 6 ISA reds. They are 2 and a half years old, we got them as pullets. No bugs whatsoever all last year, these critters started about 4 weeks ago.
Thanks for ANY help. The knowledge on these boards has already much impressed me (and saved me alot of grief!)