What is this?

[ich-knut]

I need help identifying this bug. It is in the coop and I think some of them got on my hair when I cleaned it. I found 2 on my hair the other day. I keep finding one on my body everyday. When they crawl on your skin you can definitely feel it. But it is so small and gray. It does move very fast, but doesn't jump. When it wants to sit still, it looks like it tucks its legs in and it looks a gray speck of dust/dirt on your skin. It is about the size a font size 8 period. As a result it is very hard to see if it has infected my flock or if it is bad. I know that one of the hens was infected with red mites, since then I have treated the entire coop with DE and dusted all the hens with DE. I plan on dusting the coop again with ProZap dusting powder when it arrives.

I took a picture of it on my arm. I do apologize for the lack of focus on my Phone camera; the bug was so small the camera couldn't focus. One picture has the black arrow pointing to it and the other one doesn't and you can see how small it is. (Click picture for a full size.)

 

[Suzie]

Sorry I cannot see the image..it does sound like mites and ProZap ( permethryn ) will deal with them...DE does not eradicate mites...you will need to treat twice with the ProZap...after the initial treatment treat again in 7-10 days.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree with Suzie. Ivermectin will also work, and you won't inhale any dust that way. Do clean and then dust the coop. Bugs happen! Ugh! Mary

 

[ich-knut]

I don't know if this helps.

It looks gray to the naked eye but is red when photographed and zoomed in. Thanks for trying.