somethings biting ME!

[CMV]

It sounds like you are having an allergic reaction to whatever is biting you. That's all the itchy, red welt after a mosquito bite is- an allergic reaction to the compounds in a mosquitoes saliva. It's the right time if year for no-see-ums/biting midges, but you will usually feel yourself getting bitten by those- OUCH. Chigger bites would also be all around your ankles because they live near the ground and if you've ever had chigger bites before you never really forget how intensely itchy they are. (My sympathies Hennysmom.) Black flies are not as prevalent as they are in early spring. My vote is probably mites. They can cause some pretty intense itching if you are allergic to them. You might want to use some herbal bug repellent like citronella oil on your hands when handling your birds until you get your problem under control.

I went camping with some friends once and got bitten within an inch of my life by some kind of bloodsucking insect. I was literally covered in welts from head to foot and itchy beyond belief. My two friends had not one bite on either of them. It took a few days to realize that they too were being bitten, but they were not reacting to the bites like I was. It was pretty unpleasant.

Good luck.

 

[darkmatter]

Quote:
I use an old tractor tire filled with fine sand and wood ashes for the chickens to dust bath in. They like it and I've never had problems with chicken lice/mites. I also put some cedar in the nest boxes---I use fresh cedar greens pulled off the Juniper tree (with gloves).