Chicken Health

While there are several types of mites and lice they all cover the same description. Burrowing in the chicken's feathers and feasting on their blood or dander, it not only sounds gross but, can lead to more serious issues. Some mites and lice live on the bird and some like to live in a near by area and eat from the chicken when they need it. To get rid of these little creatures you can start by dusting your chickens with diatomaceous earth. It's harmless to chickens so don't be afraid to be liberal. Next, you should do a full cleaning of the coop. Remove the bedding, scrub down all surfaces, and make sure to flush out any cracks. Once the coop is clean and dry you can replace the bedding, dust with more diatomaceous earth, and bring your birds back home. Then just when it sounds like you're done, you're not because mites and lice lay eggs frequently. Make sure to check back periodically to get rid of any new bugs by adding more diatomaceous earth. Keep being persistent and these little creatures won't be bugging your flock anymore!