What are these bugs???

[Reurra]

I cant get the birds to sit still for a picture, so I have to desrcibe the bugs.

They are long and thin, and blackish. They do no look like fat red mites, they do not look clear or yellowish like lice. The bases of some feathers are caked with a powdery thick white stuff, like lice nests, but they are dry and flakey. Kinda looks like dried up instant oatmeal.

Any ideas?

 

[Egghead_Jr]

Fleas.

Dust your birds to kill fleas, clean out the coop and put a stall dry or Diatomaceous Earth in bedding to prevent egg from hatching and larvae surviving.

 

[dawg53]

Here's a link to help you ID the parasites:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig140
Use sevin dust to treat them, redust them in 7-10 days. Do the same thing inside their coop, nests and roosts. Use coconut oil to remove the eggs if you wish.

 

[Reurra]

Thanks for the link! The birds are not losing feathers, but I do think they might be figure 2 the louse. I am using DE and I dusted the birds with it too. Ive read that[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Frontline works and I might see if my Vet will get me a script for it. I thought about Ivermectin, but it seems its really expensive for jsut a small dose.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I heard sevin dist is very toxic???[/FONT]

 

[RedDrgn]

All pesticides are toxic. It's quantity and exposure that matters. Seven dust or poultry dust will work. I'm treating mine for lice with Seven dust now (and will re-treat this weekend) and it has not caused any harm. Don't get it in their eyes or near their faces at all, and don't breath it yourself, either...also don't go nuts with it, as it doesn't take much, but if used correctly, it's fine.

 

[Reurra]

About how much can you use on one bird? How is it applied? Do they ingest it when they preen?

 

[RedDrgn]

Wear long sleeves, and N95 dust mask, and rubber gloves and catch one. Hold both legs securely in one hand and while supporting their back, turn them upside down. They will probably flap and freak for a few seconds, but they quickly go limp. Lay them on their backs onto a flat surface that's covered in plastic or that can be cleaned easily while continue to hold their legs.

....keep in mind that this is much easier with two people.

They will lay limply with their wings partially out and tail fanned. From there just sprinkle some of the pesticide on the underside of their tail and all of the fluff around their vent....just enough to dust them like a powdered doughnut, but not large clumps or clouds of the stuff. Then use your fingers to work it down into their fluff and onto the skin. Repeat this under each of their wings at the joint with their bodies. Then, carefully turn them over and get them standing. Apply to between their shoulders and on the back of their heads and upper portion of their necks the same way as before. After that, you can cut them loose, grab another chicken, rinse, lather, repeat with each and then do them all again in 7-10 days. Check them all again in another 7-10 days for evidence of any remaining varmints.

Try to do this in the morning and not any time right before they go to roost (because that's usually when they do most of their preening). That gives plenty of time for excess dust to sift off of their plumage. You also should not dust right around their oil gland that they preen with unless they're really badly infested and you absolutely need to (located on top of the base of their tail).

 

[Reurra]

Thanks so much for the reply!

Is there any kind of "waiting" period of for the consumption of eggs laid after treating the birds? If i dust thier vents i would think that this might be an issue.

 

[Cluky]

Sounds like a flea. I didn't see those on chickens before, but seen what you are describing on cats....

 

[Karhog]

I have heard frontline for cats is great at killing the nasties- but maximum two drops per bird depending on their size. I believe it's unlicenced to use on chooks but have heard it works very well. Thankfully so far not had to try it.