tiny bugs

[wiggans6]

Please help!!! We have tiny tiny bugs all over the chicken coop and most likely on the chickens. They are scratching and picking at themselves like they are on them. We can't even walk outside without having them crawl all over us. The coop is horrible. They haven't bit any of us. The bugs a small like the size of a ink pen head, white in color, some are a little darker in color that looks gray to almost black on them. What in the world am I dealing with and how in the world do I get rid of these pest???? We dusted the chicken coop with seven dust this evening. I am about to scream. Can I dust the chickens with the seven dust? I have baby turkeys inside and I think I have some of these bugs inside due to having windows open on real nice days. HELP ME PLEASE. How do I treat my babies and possibly my house along with my flock and coop!!!!

 

[Judy]

http://ucanr.org/freepubs/docs/8162.pdf

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/472405/lethargic-chickens-and-now-dead-help

 

[wiggans6]

I need fast results....these things are bad. I can step out my door and within minutes feel them crawling on me. My flock still looks healthy. Just scratching and pecking a lot at themselves and egg production down by 6 eggs a day. We are suffering. Any advice is well needed here.
I see that most of the talk about mites is that they are nocturnal. But these things don't care what time of day it is they are everywhere. Are they mites?

 

[Aeropennchick]

You need to get some Sevin dust and dust each bird, thoroughly clean out the coop and dust it as well. That should get rid of the white mites or lice that you seem to have.

It's yucky but it shouldn't be too difficult to fix! Good luck!

 

[nurse_turtle]

I have used flea and tick (permethrin) dip on my chickens with good results. I use about 1/2 strength than what the directions say for dogs. Many folks here may slap my hand for that, but it works. Your coop will have to be cleaned thoroughly. Burn the bedding material. Strip the coop and spray the life out of it with the left over dip solution. Don't forget to spray the roosts and nest boxes. Put Sevin dust in their favorite dust bathing areas.

 

[wiggans6]

oh my thank you. We did dust down the coop this eveing but didn't clean it. Hopefully it will quit raining here tomorrow long enough where we can clean and dust the coop and chickens. Do you think my turkeys inside have the?. Just sitting here researching I have found a couple crawling on me. What do I do about my house?

 

[chickgrrl]

We are very new to chickens but I know they get lice and I'm assuming its the same as the head lice kids will get. If you have it in the house you basically have to vac and/or wash in hot water all the material things in your house. If you get them in your hair you'll have to do the lice shampoo on yourself too. We did lice a few years ago on kids and its not at all fun. Feel free to email if you have more specific questions.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

The lice chickens get are not the same as the lice children get on their heads. They will not live long of the bird and are very species specific. If you have cage birds, it might be a concern for them, but not for any mammals, including your family

Mites are less species specific, and can live longer periods of time off the birds. Some are nocturnal, but not all are.

If you are finding the bugs in/on upholstery, carpeting, humans or mammalian pets, You will need to use a premise spray or bomb. You need to thoroughly treat your coop and run, too.

 

[chickgrrl]

I'm SO GLAD that they are not the same lice - people lice are a nightmare to get rid of. You buy a dust to put around your coop to get rid of chicken lice yes?

 

[KansasKate]

This is a very handy guide:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/a/mites-chicken-pests-how-to-protect-your-chickens-from-mites
--it sounds like chicken mites to me. I have them too. Yuck.