Small Fly Attacking Faces of Chicks at Night

[centrarchid]

This is new to me and maybe weather related. First I noticed chipmunk (wildtype colored) chicks that has a sooty appearance on the face. At first I thought only they were affected, but a younger group of black chicks are also affected. Will make pictures tomorrow.

 

[Mimi13]

Following with great concern. Not really eating popcorn, but biting my nails!

 

[ShannonR]

There is a species called face flies that effect mostly my cow, sometimes a dog or a goat also. Maybe possible it would go for chickens too, IDK?

 

[ShannonR]

Oh, I use the Ivermectin pour on to treat the cow for this, forgot to mention that. Goats can get it too, I have also successfully used the stuff to treat adult chickens for parasites, but never chicks....

 

[ShannonR]

Sorry for the multiple replies here. Normally I try and keep it all in one post.

I did a quick search and found that something called buffalo gnats(flies?) Can and will attack chickens, and can even lead to their deaths. I have no idea what is going on with yours, but it may be something to look into.

 

[centrarchid]

These are not Buffalo Gnats; too elongate and otherwise larger than Buffalo Gnats that hit earlier in the year. These little flies may be breeding barn while the Buffalo Gnats appeared to be coming some distance from flood plain down valley to south.

That assumes not more than one species if Buffalo Gnat. Getting pictures will be tough.

 

[ShannonR]

Are they those long skinny scary looking ones that won't leave you alone? I actually don't know what those are called, but they are scary!

 

[centrarchid]

They look loosely like a Buffalo Gnat except they may be more long legged with longer wings when folded over back. They move around a lot when not flying. Buffalo Gnats were like fruit flies in how they move about.

 

[ShannonR]

It might be helpful to set up something to try to keep the flies off the chicks. I know very well this is not as easy as it sounds! I envisioned something along the lines of one of those screened in pavilions for the chicks while fly control measures are implemented in their main digs. It really is too bad these are chicks effected, makes the animals themselves harder to treat for flies.

 

[centrarchid]

I have four pens with chicks that are 4 weeks or less old. Walling them off will be difficult. I am going to try using a mosquito repellent first. The repellent did not work with birds roosting in grape arbor but in barn we might have enough control over wind to keep stink in place.