Small black bugs, help!

[jamescameron87]

Hi all,
We're relatively new to backyard hens, and today have run into something I can't find the answer to online. We have a swarm of tiny black insects crawling all over the wood and hardware cloth of the run. They are not in the actual coop or on the hens as far as I can tell. They haven't been there before today, at least not in noticeable numbers.

Anyone know what they might be? They're about 2mm long. And what we might do about them?
Thanks!

Edit: Forgot to mention, we're in New Brunswick, Canada, if location helps!

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm not sure exactly what they are but they don't look like mites or lice to me, so I wouldn't worry.

 

[happyfrenchman]

I concur with oldhenlikesdogs..... looks like some kind of stink bug type beetle... I bet the chickens do not eat them either.... might be alright if that was the case but I doubt it. I think they are harmless to chickens but might like the feed.

 

[ButtonquailGirl14]

they look like stinkbugs.

 

[ronott1]

Hi all,
We're relatively new to backyard hens, and today have run into something I can't find the answer to online. We have a swarm of tiny black insects crawling all over the wood and hardware cloth of the run. They are not in the actual coop or on the hens as far as I can tell. They haven't been there before today, at least not in noticeable numbers.

Anyone know what they might be? They're about 2mm long. And what we might do about them?
Thanks!

Edit: Forgot to mention, we're in New Brunswick, Canada, if location helps!
View attachment 1477890 View attachment 1477891

I imagine you are getting them because of weather change. I did find an article about it:

32 New Beetle Species Identified from New Brunswick, Canada
ENTOMOLOGY TODAY MARCH 28, 2016 LEAVE A COMMENT

Atheta alphacrenuliventris and Acrotona brachyoptera, two new beetle species that were recently described.


In 1991, 1,365 beetle species were known from New Brunswick. That number increased to 2,703 by 2013, but there were still gaps in the knowledge of the coleopteran fauna.


Now a group of insect specialists have joined forces in the name of their love for beetles, and have compiled their findings from the last three years, reporting another 303 species for New Brunswick, including 32 species that are new to science. As a result, the beetle fauna of New Brunswick currently comprises 3,062 species

https://entomologytoday.org/2016/03/28/32-new-beetle-species-identified-from-new-brunswick-canada/

Your bugs do not look like lice or mites.