circusinak
Hatching
Hello all,
I handed down the gallon sized waterer from our dogs to the chickens when we got a bigger waterer. The type where you fill the gallon, screw on the top, and set it in the base so it refills the bottom as they drink. The girls came a-wadling over, and immediately I notice these tiny, black, jumping bugs on the surface of the water. The size of the sharp end of a pin. I cannot tell if they have 6 or 8 legs. They clumped together til i got close with my camera, then they scatter-jumped across the top of the water. Never noticed them on the birds, and couldn't see any on them while they drank, but they were just multiplying before my eyes. Quite literally. Like I would take a pic, zoom in to look better, and there were twice as many as before. If someone could identify these I would be so greatful, we have dogs and kids and would love to minimize the issue. I plan to clean out the cool tomorrow and coat the dirt floor with diatomaceous earth. I only put a small amount of wood shavings in their nesting boxes, no bedding on the coop floor. They free range during the day and I lock them in at night. Thank you so much in advance. I read through other threads here but non showed pics that I thought were the same.
I handed down the gallon sized waterer from our dogs to the chickens when we got a bigger waterer. The type where you fill the gallon, screw on the top, and set it in the base so it refills the bottom as they drink. The girls came a-wadling over, and immediately I notice these tiny, black, jumping bugs on the surface of the water. The size of the sharp end of a pin. I cannot tell if they have 6 or 8 legs. They clumped together til i got close with my camera, then they scatter-jumped across the top of the water. Never noticed them on the birds, and couldn't see any on them while they drank, but they were just multiplying before my eyes. Quite literally. Like I would take a pic, zoom in to look better, and there were twice as many as before. If someone could identify these I would be so greatful, we have dogs and kids and would love to minimize the issue. I plan to clean out the cool tomorrow and coat the dirt floor with diatomaceous earth. I only put a small amount of wood shavings in their nesting boxes, no bedding on the coop floor. They free range during the day and I lock them in at night. Thank you so much in advance. I read through other threads here but non showed pics that I thought were the same.
You have been given good advice. I don't have a microscope so I use a magnifying glass. Good luck...
