Weird bugs in coop! HELP!

[Gallo del Cielo]

Well, it looks to me like a beetle. While no direct threat to your chickens they can play intermediate hosts to a number of poultry parasites. Depending on the species, they can also be very damaging to wood structures.

 

[ChickChick0811]

Thanks! I think they came along in the bag of shavings

 

[AnotherSusan]

If they were in the shavings they might be a kind of pine beetle. If so, they are bad news. If you think that is what they might be, I would contact your Dept. of Agriculture and ask them what to do. Google pine beetle to see what they look like. They are a bad pest.

 

[AnotherSusan]

Here is a picture that gives a general size.
And here is a close up of one.

There are lots of different types, not sure which one you might have.

 

[AliQuail]

Could they be Ischalia costata (ant-like flower beetle) http://bugguide.net/node/view/51491

 

[exop]

Looks to me like some kind of rove beetle.

I wish your picture was a little bigger. Looks like it has transparent wings, can you see if it sometimes folds them up very small so that it appears wingless?

The size, shape, antenna, flying, and the super speed makes me think of a rove beetle. Plus, rove beetles would likely be found in rotting materials such as damp litter.

Rove beetles are good! They are predators, and hunt even smaller creepy crawlies such as thrips and other tiny things that eat rotting plant material. They would be a normal part of a compost ecosystem. Nothing to worry about. Just a sign that the chickens' litter is starting to compost.

Best - exop