Tics on my Chicks

[Henrik Petersson]

First of all, thank you for the comments about the drawings! It's great to see that connoisseurs of true art still exist.

As for diatomaceous earth: I have a conviction against it, since I believe it's hazardous to bird and human health. I don't judge others who use it, but my assessment is that it can do more harm than good.

About the size of the tics: They're mostly tiny, ranging from perhaps half a millimeter to three millimeters across. Here you can see three of them around the eye:

Applying heat to them doesn't seem feasible; I would be too scared to burn the chick, and I don't really know what instrument I would use for that anyway. Oil seems to be a more fitting option, though it strikes me as a little too "blunt"; it seems to me that half the chick would be smeared in oil after one such treatment. Or wait... I guess I could apply it with a cotton swab? Hey, that's not a terrible idea... Hmm...

Lazy gardener: That seems to be a good tool. I have also seen some variant with a little lasso that catches the tic. I think both could solve the problem cutting the tic off at its mouth, but it seems to me they would run as big a risk of getting down caught as my tweezers...

And yes, we have Lyme disease here. I am vaccinated against it.

I might get one of those tools, but after a few more rounds, I must say that I'm turning into quite a virtuoso with those tweezers, if I may say so myself...

 

[Peppercorngal]

Oh, poor little chicks, those ticks are sooooo small! Here in the USA we do not currently have a vaccine for Lyme Disease. The FDA approved one but it was pulled off the market in 2002. I'm glad you are protected. I'd just keep pulling them off if I were you, just keep doing it! Good Luck and keep us posted!

 

[Unexpected chicken lover]

First of all, thank you for the comments about the drawings! It's great to see that connoisseurs of true art still exist.

As for diatomaceous earth: I have a conviction against it, since I believe it's hazardous to bird and human health. I don't judge others who use it, but my assessment is that it can do more harm than good.

About the size of the tics: They're mostly tiny, ranging from perhaps half a millimeter to three millimeters across. Here you can see three of them around the eye:

Applying heat to them doesn't seem feasible; I would be too scared to burn the chick, and I don't really know what instrument I would use for that anyway. Oil seems to be a more fitting option, though it strikes me as a little too "blunt"; it seems to me that half the chick would be smeared in oil after one such treatment. Or wait... I guess I could apply it with a cotton swab? Hey, that's not a terrible idea... Hmm...

Lazy gardener: That seems to be a good tool. I have also seen some variant with a little lasso that catches the tic. I think both could solve the problem cutting the tic off at its mouth, but it seems to me they would run as big a risk of getting down caught as my tweezers...

And yes, we have Lyme disease here. I am vaccinated against it.

I might get one of those tools, but after a few more rounds, I must say that I'm turning into quite a virtuoso with those tweezers, if I may say so myself...

Oh my, they are tiny!! Oil is a good idea with your idea of applicating it with a qtip...less stressful to the chicks. As for me suggesting heat, i thought u could heat the tweezers you are already using...they let go instantaneously, and no tugging on the chicks face!! The oil does sound better tho
Good luck in whatever u decide...u seem to care for ur chickens alot!! Great chicken mama...they are lucky to have u

 

[casportpony]

Are you sure they are ticks and not stick tight fleas?
http://articles.extension.org/pages/66151/ectoparasite

 

[casportpony]

I enlarged your picture and I am pretty sure they are stick tight fleas.

 

[casportpony]

So my question is: Should I keep removing tics, or should I just leave them be?

Remove them, they can cause anemia and death.

 

[Mav11417]

I was raised to believe chickens ate ticks and other bugs. My grandfather even got more chickens that free ranged in the yard if the ticks got really bad. Is this a myth?

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

Why don’t you catch the hen and her six chicks and isolate them in a small chicken coop so that the chicks can grow without being a host to parasites? The chicks will be kept out of the tall grass and hopefully that will get rid of the tics.

 

[Nuchi]

I was told by a vet never to use heat to remove them because they vomit(can introduce vectors) as they are removed in this way same as leeches. I was told to grab them at the base of there mouth parts with either tweezers or that green tool then twist them in a few circles and they come right off. Pulling works but can take junks of skin and some times there mouth parts are left behind which is bad as well but twisting makes it much less likely.

Never had them growing up, lived in the city for a short wile and somehow my dog got littered in them yet living the Mojave I have yet to see one again.

 

[sourland]

Do an on site search on 'stick tight fleas'. I believe they can be removed by applying permethrin or ivermectin directly to them using a Q tip. Seems as if it should even work on ticks.

I too enjoy your artistic creations.