The Big Bug thread: good, bad, and meh.

[Orpingtons Mom]

Couple of observations this morning, as I watch my five boogies run around outside.

There are—from my reading—two kinds of bugs in a chicken’s life: edible, and pest. Apparently, they can switch sides. Example: This morning I noticed that four of the five birds were scratching and pecking. Took a look and could find nothing, except a tiny red dot.

Was that an edible bug, OR, a mite that had just fallen off...

Which brings me to another topic (Don’t worry it’s bug related.) I found a cicada in their tiny temporary run. Edible? Plus, cutie- pie ate a worm yesterday. What about flies? gnats, ants?

How do you check for mites? Fleas? Ticks? Do chickens groom each other? So do adolescents fluff their feathers constantly? Or is that a sign of bad bugs (bb)? If they find a mite, (on themselves) will they eat it?

*sigh*

Help me Obi Wan Kenobi. You’re my only hope.

 

[Stipenvlerk]

Wow so many questions!
And even more answers possible.

regarding to the red critters.. where I live you have the
Oogstmijt ( Harvest mite / Trombicula autumnalis) which can give many skin problems for humans
https://nl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oogstmijt


Fluweelmijt (red Velvet mite / Trombidium holosericeum) which is perfectly fine to be around

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trombidium_holosericeum
and also the Entrombidium rostratus..

and rode vogelmijt (poultry red mite/ Dermanyssus gallinae) which is a big problem for your chicken.
And a few others..

First you have to find out which one you have
And maybe there are more where you live...
so not every red tingy is bad but is can certainly be!

 

[rosemarythyme]

For most edible bugs, the chickens will taste it and decide if they like them, love them, or don't want them. Something like your typical housefly is tough to catch, but big slow crane flies are super popular with my girls, as are their grubs.

Regarding mites, lice, etc.: https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

 

[Orpingtons Mom]

Thank you, Rosemarythyme. GREAT reference. Especially the ChickenDVM!