Mites and Lice

One of our hens just died the other day from, we assume, mites and lice. We're usually pretty good at checking them all for this, but we've been super busy and just got back a week ago. The bugs that chickens get are harmless to people, dogs, cats, and such. They will eventually kill a bird though, the poor things worry themselves to death. For a while I had thought that since we hadn't been around any other chickens that they would be fine. However, the bugs are usually transmitted from pigions and any other birds that get in the coop.

It's pretty simple to prevent your poultry from this tragedy:

• Regular dirt/dust baths(chickens love these) really help, but will not completely keep the pests off
• If you do find bugs on them(they can be found under the wings and/or around the bird's vent) spraying for about 5 days with Adams Flea and Tick spray will kill them. The first and second spray exterminate them, then the next sprays get the eggs that hatch.
• Ash from a fire pit or fireplace helps.
• Sevin dust(like for your gardens and veggies) is great. Apply it under the wings and vent just like the spray.
• Other dog and cat treatments work as well.

And that's basically it.

kk

Our chickens

Right now, we have 15 adult chickens:

3 Ameraucana hens
1 Ameraucana rooster/cock
1 Barred or Plymouth rock hen
1 Australorp hen
1 Buff Brahma hen
1 Buff Brahma bantam hen
3 Rhode Island Red hens
4 Buff Orpington hens

We just recently got 6 chicks. They're about 3-4 weeks old.

2 Red-laced Blue Wyandotte cockerels
1 Red-laced Blue Wyandotte pullet
2 Blue Silkie pullets(1 black & 1 blue)
1 Blue Silkie cockerel(splash)

They all doing really well and are super sweet. Luckily, we didn't lose any over winter(last year we lost 2 to the hawks). We're still waiting on 16 more chicks that will be coming any day this week. Super excited!

kk