pale comb and small bugs

[jasonbennett1]

Have a small flock of 16 chickens. One barred rock hen's comb and face are pale compared to the other chickens. She acts normal other than that. Checked her out last night and foud a few (not a bunch) very small bugs crawling around in the feathers just above her feet. I didn't find any scabing or bloody spots. Found the same on several other chickens also. Going to get some sevin dust and dust everyone and the coop/run. Sound good? Any other suggestions? Could this cause the pale face?
Also, all of my chickens are 5 months old; should I be expecting eggs soon? Too hot? Could these bugs slow that down also?

 

[chickensioux]

Sounds like lice. Sevin should work. Lice will cause a pale comb as they are sucking blood. It may slow production because they don't feel well. Hope this helps and maybe someone else has other ideas
Just make sure the sevin is safe for poultry.

 

[Country4ever]

Diatomacious earth or wood ashes are good to spread in their bedding and in the nestboxes too. Be careful with the Sevin. I'm not sure you should eat the eggs for awhile. Anyone know for sure?

 

[threehorses]

I don't know about egg eating and Sevin. I just use Poultry Dust Permethrin now instead - flock and coop. And really I like ivermectin for blood suckers, which apparently these are. Ivermectin on the birds, permethrin in the coops/bedding stirred in really well. If there's an infestation.

If there's not an infestation, I like DE in between. Only get food grade though. Fresh water is the best. You can put it in the bedding, in their dust bathing areas - mix it in really well so it's not just dust on top as any dusty-dust is never good for respiratory systems.

Since your bird is anemic, then boost her nutrition. Make sure at least 90% of her food is the complete feed. Give them all a yogurt/boiled egg/crumble treat first feeding of the day a few times this week to help them all get their nutrition and calcium/vitamin D levels up to get ready for laying when that starts.

As for laying, are their combs turning cherry yet? That's usually when I know it's about to happen. Their combs finally fill out and redden.