SOS - Tiny Gray Bugs?? Broody Hens + Eggs

[chickenmeg1]

Hi all,

I'm hoping you can help. For context, I have 5 hens total. Two broody hens that are each sitting on a clutch of 6 eggs. Hatch day is in a couple of days.

Recently I have noticed these tiny (I mean really tiny, barely visible) little bugs. I think they are gray, but not sure? Anyway, they are very, very small. I first noticed one or two crawling on an egg, but I haven't seen any on an egg since. I had a few crawling on me after working around the nesting boxes (but there's also a lot of shrubbery there so it could be from that?).

It's hard to catch my hens these days. I looked the broodys over and did see a couple crawling on them (on the bare chest area), but feathers, comb, feet, look good (I think).

I am not sure what to do. I know there are preventative measures, but what should I do to take care of this now, and how will it affect the hatching eggs and new chicks? With hatch day approaching I am freaking out!

SOS!

 

[swamphiker]

There are a few different insect pests of chickens, but mites are the most common. More info here: https://poultrydvm.com/condition/mites

Click on the links for the individual mite species for photos and more info on each.

Do any of these match what you are seeing?

 

[chickenmeg1]

Thanks for responding. It's really hard to say - I know, not helpful! They are so small and pretty light in color. They move around pretty quick (on me) so I can't get a picture of one. At first I thought maybe lice? But their body shape seems more round? Ugh.

 

[swamphiker]

Here's a good resource on poultry lice: https://poultrydvm.com/condition/lice

 

[chickenmeg1]

Here's a good resource on poultry lice: https://poultrydvm.com/condition/lice

Thank you. I tried to grab a picture of one, it's very hard to tell but this is what I've got. It's the tiny speck on the bottom.

Would Poultry Dust be enough for this? Was thinking of dusting the broody's since everyone else seems fine. I can carefully change out the nesting material (we use aspen nesting pads), and dust that and the floor of the coop as well. Is this safe for baby chicks when they hatch?

Is that sufficient? Should I be emptying everything out? Thanks for your help.

 

[swamphiker]

I can't tell what it is from the photo, but regardless of whether they are lice or mites, permethrin on the chickens as well the coop should do the trick. Check the ingredients on your poultry dust to make sure it contains permethrin.

 

[chickenmeg1]

Thanks for your help @swamphiker ! I went out to Tractor Supply and got some poultry dust which has permethrin as the active ingredient. Fingers crossed that all goes well with the mama's and the babies! I did see a few pips while cleaning things out, which is new from this morning!