1-2” Black bugs under coop, found under wet wood, only seen at night

ChickensandCatsandKids

In the Brooder
Oct 20, 2024
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Hi all,

I have seven chickens. I have been noticing some signs like poopy butts, general dishevelment, in my girls. I always checked for mites never found any. The other night I checked again in coop and found LOTS of 1-2” black bugs had come out of the floor and were crawling through their bedding. In a panic the next day, so far I have ordered the permethrin (coming today), yesterday I did a full clean out, burned all material, power hosed the entire area, I also found (I think?) the source as one area of the coop had a piece of untreated wood that I didn’t realize- that piece was very wet. So anything like that was removed and I sealed any cracks, as well as as added a linoleum sheet for the floor instead of that wood. I used first Saturday lime, DE, Also used a mix of tee tree oil/dish soap/vegetable oil everywhere until the permethrin arrives. Last night a check of the coop showed 0 bugs so hopefully we’re headed in right direction.
But Now. My question… as I’m doing more research, I don’t believe they’re actually mites? They were much bigger. Flat and almost oval? Black or very dark brown. I did notice a couple millipedes during the clear out. I looked up wet/dry wood termites, even went through another website hundreds of bug pictures and I cannot find what they were. My main worry is that this will all work to solve the problem, if I continue the treatments as if I’m treating mites? I’m hoping someone has had a similar experience and can tell me what they were!! I’m just worried about my girls, and my house is near their coop so seriously hoping it’s not something that can travel inside. I didn’t get a picture as i really hate bugs and was horrified and waited for sun up so i could clean without seeing them!!
 
used first Saturday lime, DE, Also used a mix of tee tree oil/dish soap/vegetable oil everywhere until the permethrin arrives
I don't know about the lime, but I do know that getting the DE wet renders it ineffective. Meanwhile, good luck. Hoping to see pics of these bugs soon. Could they have been some kind of beetles?
 
I don't know about the lime, but I do know that getting the DE wet renders it ineffective. Meanwhile, good luck. Hoping to see pics of these bugs soon. Could they have been some kind of beetles?
Ah good to know thanks. I did try to let everything dry out before I added that stuff- but that was without knowing the DE would be ineffective if wet, so I doubt I had it dry enough. Hoping the permethrin will do the trick.
I definitely wish I took pictures initially, (though I’m glad I couldn’t find them last night in order to!). I also wondered if they were beetles, but each I looked up didn’t match what I saw, unless I was looking at a lot of very young ones? Maybe.. but thank you for the insight!
 
Hmm, I don't know my insects all that well, but there are so few that are harmful to chickens...
You could always look here: bugguide.net
There are so many thousands of insects, though. Good luck!
I agree! Based on your description they definitely aren’t mites. Mites are quite small, sometimes very difficult to see, they don’t have an elongated body or anything like that.

The dampness was probably attracting the insects. A consistent source of moisture you don’t disturb, like a damp board, is usually more than enough to draw them in. The chicken feces itself can attract in any number of decomposers like pesky flies, aforementioned harmless pill bugs, etc.
 
1-2" are pretty big bugs.

Maybe Old House Borer (Hylotrupes bajulus)

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https://www.forestpests.eu/pest/hylotrupes-bajulus
https://entomology.ca.uky.edu/ef653
 

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