Teeny Tiny Bugs on Window Sill

MesMama

Songster
6 Years
Apr 22, 2015
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Iowa
Noticed some super tiny bugs on the window sill in the coop this morning, so small like if you took a sharpened pencil and made a dot. Kind of brownish maybe? But so small I couldn't really tell. There's some poop on the sill because they like to sit up there :/
I haven't noticed them anywhere else, but then again they're really small. Anyone know what they might be? I know it's a long shot, not much to go on, but I was wondering about lice or mites? If it's lice they're babies because my mom's chickens had lice a few weeks ago and these are considerably smaller and hers were whitish, these are considerably smaller.
 
Could be mite/lice there are different kinds.
If you are seeing them, then you may want to treat your coop. Everyone has a "favorite method" and there are numerous products on the market. Most feed stores carry poultry dust and a few other parasite sprays/dusts as well.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/1483/common-external-parasites-in-poultry-lice-and-mites/

Are mites super tiny, like wouldn't see them unless you were looking for them? I was holding one of my 9 week old chicks and after she got down I noticed a couple uber tiny brownish bugs on my arm and shirt. I've been on the lookout today to try and determine what the bugs are and if I need to be concerned. Checking vents etc and haven't actually seen any bugs directly ON any of them. I can't really handle my older birds because they're not tame at all :( May need to go out after dark and check them. I sprayed Tempo (get it from the local farmers co-op) all over the coop yesterday, hoping that works if it IS mites?? I'm nervous about using Sevin dust ON the chickens themselves, that stuff scares me :eek: Is it enough to dust the coop well?
 
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There are SO many different kind of insects around...most of them harmless to chickens.
I do not treat unless I know for sure they're a threat to the birds.
I'd have to see insect eggs on the feather shafts before pulling out any poisons..then out comes the permethrin dust.
 
There are SO many different kind of insects around...most of them harmless to chickens.
I do not treat unless I know for sure they're a threat to the birds.
I'd have to see insect eggs on the feather shafts before pulling out any poisons..then out comes the permethrin dust.


I like that philosophy:) I will check my adults after dark tonight...fingers crossed for no critters!
 
Can you get any pictures of the little critters?
I do agree with @aart there are so many bugs out there it's hard to tell what and when to treat.
I do use Poultry Dust (pyrethrin) in the coop. A small amount in the corners, I move the bedding and put it on the flooring, when I change the nesting material I put a little in those too (under the nesting material). I mainly rely on (hopefully) dust bathing, but I add ash to their favorite dust bathing spots.
 
Can you get any pictures of the little critters?
I do agree with @aart
there are so many bugs out there it's hard to tell what and when to treat.
I do use Poultry Dust (pyrethrin) in the coop. A small amount in the corners, I move the bedding and put it on the flooring, when I change the nesting material I put a little in those too (under the nesting material).  I mainly rely on (hopefully) dust bathing, but I add ash to their favorite dust bathing spots.


They are so small I don't think they would even show up in a pic :( I think I may add some ash to their dusting areas, that's a good idea
 
You'd have to put one under a microscope(killing it without squishing it first), take a pic thru scope, then probably send it to an entomologist to get a conclusive ID.
lol.png
LOL probably so, but you never know what type of photography skills some may have.
 

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