Is your dog's unusual barking a secret code for something mysterious?

[Gertie]

I have just discovered something disgusting. There are lots of tiny white lice in my feed bin. I feed the chickens on layers mash. I had a tin of poultry spice in the bin too & I can see them crawling on the shiny surface. I'm sure they weren't there yesterday. They are really tiny& white, small as a grain of sand. The container is metal & sealed. Does anyone know what they are? I'm going to throw the food away& sterilise the bin. I'm also going to need to treat the ground in the run. Does anyone know what's good to eradicate these beasties? Can they get on the chickens, me or my cats?

 

Thanks

[Redwing]

I think there is such a thing as grain mites

 

I expect the chickens will have hoovered up any in the feeder and run

 

I'd bin the feed and clean and properly dry the bin before refilling it with fresh feed

[Gertie]

I've just washed everything with disinfectant & am leaving it to dry off. I'm worried I might have walked them in the house. They were in the feeder& I've seen them in the food on the ground (I sweep it up but the chickens flick it everywhere!). Here's hoping it's nothing hideous. I'll do a search on the net.

 

Thanks for replying.

 

Erika

[The Dogmother]

Weevils!

 

Use Diatom in the feed bin. It won't hurt to mix a bit in with the feed either. they use it in the massive grain hoppers in the US to stop weevils and beetles.

[Gertie]

Hello

 

Thanks for the great idea. Now you mention it I do vaguely recall reading something about mixing diatomaceous earth with feed stuffs. I will definitely do that. I have bought a new sack of feed and washed everything chicken so hopefully they wont come back. Are they harmful to chickens, humans or cats does anyone know? Also, did I do something wrong to get them in the feed bin in the first place?

 

Many thanks for your expert advice.

 

Erika

[The Dogmother]

I don't think they'll harm any animals; they just want to eat your grains.

 

They are usually imported with feed that you buy - I once had some in a bag of flour from Te$co

[Gertie]

Oh my... Hope you spotted them before you used any!! Let's hope this sack of feed is lice free. Thanks again!