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| Looking for bugs |
Bugs. Tiny little jumping and flying bugs are all over the coop. They walk about on the cedar shakes of the coop roof and as I go to pinch them, they jump. They jump like popcorn. These tiny little bugs are everywhere. What are they, I have no idea, but after a few moments out there yesterday morning, I already had the heebie jeebies. I grabbed the food grade diatomaceous earth, held my breath and began to blast the bugs with the pest pistol. DE filled the air, my hair and my clothes. I removed myself from the coop area and I waited until the dust settled. I went inside, continued to get the kids ready for school and showered.
A little later in the morning, I returned to the coop. A few bug were still exploring the outside of the coop. I brushed them off and they popped away like impatiens’ seed pod I used to pop as a child. I looked inside the coop and saw no evidence of bugs. The chickens were unfazed as well. However, these little visitors were really starting to bug me! I grabbed the poultry protector and sprayed down the entire coop and run. Finally by the end of they day, they were no where to be seen.
This morning, I woke up and went out to the coop. The bugs had returned. I blasted them with poultry protector again. later in the day, I asked the lady at the feed store about the little flying things. She had no idea but thought that they could have just blown in from somewhere. I took no chances. I bought two more bottles of poultry protector while I was there. I have no idea about these little bugs. I can’t be sure of what they are or where they originate. I just know that I do not want them bugging the girls. This is the first time I have ever had this sort of thing happen with the coop and the chickens. Bugs certainly have their place in this great big world of ours, just not near our coop. Perhaps, whatever blew them in for this visit will blow them onto their next destination this week. A girl can dream…
Photo Credit: Tilly’s Nest
9 thoughts on “Bugs”
Fleas? How close do you live to the ocean? Sandfleas maybe? That's all I can think of that hop. You know what lice looks like so it can't be them.
Chile powder may also help. You can sprinkle it around like the DE. The chickens bodies don't react to capsasum. But the bugs can't handle it. I give it to my girls once in a while in their food and scratch to kill any internal bugs. Good Luck.
That's what I was thinking too Rose, sounds like fleas. I'm wondering if you can use some sort of tape strip to catch one to verify what hopping menace is invading the coop.
If it is fleas.. then it will mean stripping down the whole coop and the run several times.
Yes, I was thinking fleas too. If it is red fleas you would be seeing signs, blood spots especially. I have read that you can use DE almost like a white wash by mixing it with water and 'painting' the coop with it. Good luck!
Thank you all for your suggestions. There were a few less there this morning. I will try your tips and keep you all posted.
Just stopping by to say congrats on the Blue Ribbon award! We just got chickens this past August and love them!They are so much fun to raise and in fact, have help push us become full on vegetarian as we could never eat our little guys now.
Best!
Amanda/Bullfrogs and Bulldogs
http://www.bullfrogsandbulldogs.com
Thank you so much Amanda for your kind words and I am so glad that you are enjoying your flock. I always tell people starting out when they are sometimes a little apprehensive, "What is the worst thing that could happen? You don't enjoy it and you rehome them." After hearing that most take the plunge and enjoy their flocks immensely. I have yet to hear of anyone rehoming their flock because the chickens were not enjoyable 🙂
I have just spotted some jumpy black bugs, def not the typical looking flea. In fact, it doesn't look like a flea at all! It's neither flat or leggy. These are very small black bugs, but jump. I have only found them (so far) in the water bowl by the back door. Then I look up and I see them on the walls of the porch (the plastic is up for the winter). I turn to look at the flock and one girl has black spots on her comb, but I couldn't get close enough to see if it was the same thing? I hadn't noticed this last night when I tucked them into bed. WHAT ARE THEY?? I sprayed the porch and area down with flea killer. I ran inside to see what I was dealing with. I'm headed to check the coop now. 🙁
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/653828/teeny-black-bug-jumps-like-flea
These are it!!
Oh my goodness! I believe you are talking about snow fleas! Yes, they do not bother the chickens at all, so I have come to learn but they certainly can give you the heebie jeebies!