[Mischief]

Hi all

I'm desperate for advice. I've just been cleaning out my chickens and have found loads of these squirming bug like things in their old wood shavings. They are about 5-8 mm long. At one end they have what look like a few hairs and the other end is pointed and moves a lot. I've put one of the bugs in a pile of diatom but its still moving. I've doused the house in poultry shield and will diatom the bedding. I've also put powder on all the girls..... one of them has been really off these past few days and I#m very worried that this could be a big problem.

Would anyone have an idea what these things could be and how I get rid of them !!!!

Thanks everyone

[Foxy]

ugh!!!! they sound really horrible!! They sounds like just small black insects that have hatched in your bedding, maybe they were in there when you bought it. I doubt they will do any harm to your chooks. Hopefully a bug expert will be along soon!

[Flowerpower136]

Odd that the girls haven't eaten them?  Mine can spot a squirmy thing from right across the run, yummy!
Be interested to know what they are though.

[Fredjones]

Mischief, can you take a photo of the bugs and i will try and identify for you-------Fred

[pink-chicken]

Do they have legs? If not they sound like some sort of larvae which have initially hatched from 'eggs' maybe laid by a beetle or fly?

Jan.x

[Mischief]

Hiya

Thanks for all your comments I think they may be some kind of larvae now that you mention it....I've tried to take a piccy but the camera can't seem to focus on it but I'll try again tomorrow....

I'm also surprised that they didn't eat them as any other bug within a 100m radius would be chicken food !!!! They seemed to be buried underneath the bedding so maybe they didn't see them.........

Anyway I'll try to get a piccy ....thanks again

[pink-chicken]

Hope you manage to get a piccy Mischief as it would be interesting to know what they are. I don't think beetle larvae are much of a problem to chickens? maybe a beetle has decided it's nice and cosy in the coop and decided to leave her brood there. Not so sure about fly larvae though as they just might be a nuisance depending on what sort of fly?

Jan.x

[Foxy]

Dont beetles taste horrid as self defense? Not that I've tried one! (Ugh!!!!!)

[AmandaH]

Oh, pass the bucket, I think I'm going to be sick!

Does seem odd that any bug hasn't been hoovered up by girls.

Do try to post a piccie Mischief so one of the clever people can tell us what it is...

[Bigblacktaximan]

Dont beetles taste horrid as self defense? Not that I've tried one! (Ugh!!!!!)

thats not much of a defense is it   
'crunch' that beetle tasted horrible, ohh well too late

[AmandaH]

That's it, I am going to be sick...

[Evansent]

me thinks we may all be sick when the photo comes...the description sounds vile!! or should that be weevil - sorry! 

Colette x

[alisonwo]

Yuk, sounds revolting, I tried mine in the summer with caterpillars found on the tomato plants, thinking they would nuts for them, all they did was stamp on them, well I could have done this in the first place, but it kept them entertained for a while 

[IMOmimey]

My salad suddenly doesnt look so appealing, wonder why?   

[Bigblacktaximan]

My salad suddenly doesnt look so appealing, wonder why?   

Answer :  Youre supposed to take the caterpillars Off the salad before the hens stamp all over them