question about lice on chickens...

[still learning]

This is probably a dumb question, but is this the same kind of lice that get into human hair? I have three long haired girls and we have our first layers scheduled to arrive in April. Should I be worried about this at all?

 

[dixiechick]

no...the human lice does not transfer to animals...

 

[Teach97]

no it is not typically the same lice...but it can be? I am not sure about the lice but many parasites are fairly species spacific (I don't think lice are) No real worries though...as long as you manage your flock fairly well you shouldn't have problems and if they do turn up (like they did on our birds) it is fairly easy to get rid of them...usually...there are some horror stories out there and I am so glad it didn't happen to me. But then we only had it in two pens and nowhere else...go figure!

Apparently they aren't according to the poster that got in before me!

 

[still learning]

I'm so relieved!

I have heard horror stories from friends about getting rid of lice on children (and the bedding, and couches, and stuffed animals, etc). Blech.