small white bugs

[UGAchick]

I know this is stupid, but this is my first time with pests. I was in the run yesterday and noticed that I had small white bugs on my hands and arms. I was actually not touching the chickens, but had just finished feeding them. Is it possible that this bugs are in their food? The chickens that I have right now are extremely skiddish and won't let me anywhere near them. So I didn't check to see if they had the bugs. To be honest, I was so grossed out that I didn't check the inside of the coop to see if they were in there.

Are they lice or mites? Or something else? How do I deal with this?

 

[dawg53]

You need to physically and visually inspect your chickens for lice/mites. Inspect their feed as well since you dont know what you're dealing with. Post again with your results here if you find anything on your chickens or in your feed and we can give you advice what to do. Good luck.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

This link will give you some info. until people answer. I have not seen anything but Northern Fowl mites in person.

There are also bugs called springtails that I have seen in my garden:

http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/springtails.html

Also- I didn't realize someone had already responded when I said "until people answer."

 

[Imp]

dawg is right.
Here's some info about lice & mites:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

Imp