Ticks?

[insanedieg0]

I found hundreds of these tiny critters in my chicken feed. They're a third the size of a grain of rice. They look like ticks, but are they? In San Diego, 100 degree weather, the scratch is in a sealed bucket.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

I don't think they are ticks, but some sort of invasive beetle. Are there red/rust spots on them? I wouldn't want them in the feed. Wish you luck!

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Nightmares for sure tonight!

 

[Folly's place]

Creatures From the Blue Lagoon...

 

[insanedieg0]

I don't think they are ticks, but some sort of invasive beetle. Are there red/rust spots on them? I wouldn't want them in the feed. Wish you luck!

I don't see spots. They just look black to the naked eye. In the photo though they look like they're speckled. I sprinkled diatomaceous earth in the feed yesterday and seem to have a lot fewer of them this morning. I hope it works.

 

[Geena]

They are some kind of grain weevil.

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

 

[Idaho Chicken Bungalow]

Welcome! Glad you joined the coop.

 

[Folly's place]

The one place that DE is useful; it will kill them. However, depending on their numbers, tossing it all out would be fine...
And if this stuff is in your house, get it out ASAP, and insecticide in the room!
Is it old stuff? checking mill dates on every bag of feed matters, and I don't store such stuff in the house.
Mary

 

[insanedieg0]

The one place that DE is useful; it will kill them. However, depending on their numbers, tossing it all out would be fine...
And if this stuff is in your house, get it out ASAP, and insecticide in the room!
Is it old stuff? checking mill dates on every bag of feed matters, and I don't store such stuff in the house.
Mary

I keep it by the coop in a food bucket. I sprinkled some DE on top and 2 days later it looks like they're all dead. Now I need to check the grain bag that it came from!