Chook bug ID please !

[President Bartlet]

After cleaning out my coop I found this little blighter on me (and took a photo of it magnified) It is actually 1-2mm long. I've looked it up on the net and can't decide if it is a mite or a louse and if so what type, but I'm sure it's not a red mite. I think it bit me (and I've got a little bit of a rash). The chickens all seem fine and are laying. We dusted them with Barrier Red Mite Powder two days ago. All help greatly appreciated

http://i923.photobucket.com/albums/ad80 ... 020003.jpg

[battybird]

Yuk!! No idea what it is...so no help at all...hopefully someone will come along soon who is better informed! At least it only seems to have bitten you and the red mite powder may help anyway!

[Kat-bob]

I believe it's a louse they come in all shapes and sizes. I had them (or rather the chooks did!) a while ago and couldn't shift them with louse powder so used frontline which was instant death!

[President Bartlet]

Thanks very much for that, Kat-bob.

What type of frontline did you use and how much?

I did a quick search and although it's not licenced for poultry it seems to be widely used and most people seem to do a 7 day egg withdrawal period, would most people agree with this?

[Millymollymandy]

I wouldn't dare use it on my hens as even my cat goes loopy so I won't be using it any more. I think he managed to lick some off and we had a rather unpleasant poo situation during the night which I had to clean up. I presume people don't use a whole cat/dog dose on a chook do they?

I would lay off the eggs for a bit too (excuse the pun!).