What do chicken lice or fleas look like? - briefly
Chicken lice are tiny, flat, wingless insects about 1–2 mm long, gray‑brown in color, and they cling to the bird’s feathers, especially around the vent and under the wings. Fleas are slightly larger, 2–4 mm, reddish‑brown, laterally compressed, and they jump onto the host, often found on the skin and in the comb.
What do chicken lice or fleas look like? - in detail
Chicken lice are tiny, wingless insects that measure 1–3 mm in length. Their bodies are flattened laterally, facilitating movement through feathers. Color ranges from pale yellow to brown, often becoming darker after a blood meal. Antennae are short, consisting of 5–6 segments. Legs end in sharp claws that grip feather shafts. Eggs (nits) appear as tiny oval shells attached to the base of feathers, typically near the skin.
Key visual traits of chicken lice:
- Length: 1–3 mm
- Body shape: dorsoventrally flattened
- Color: pale yellow‑brown, darkening after feeding
- Antennae: short, multi‑segmented
- Legs: clawed, adapted for feather navigation
- Nits: oval, cemented to feather bases
Chicken fleas, most commonly the sticktight flea (Ctenocephalides spp.), differ markedly. Adult fleas are laterally compressed, 1.5–3 mm long, and exhibit a dark reddish‑brown coloration. Their bodies are covered with tiny spines that give a rough texture. Jumping legs are long and robust, ending in a pair of enlarged hind femora. Fleas possess a laterally flattened head with prominent eyes and short, serrated mouthparts for piercing skin. After feeding, the abdomen expands and appears engorged, often taking on a brighter, more translucent hue.
Distinctive characteristics of chicken fleas:
- Length: 1.5–3 mm
- Body shape: laterally compressed, spiny surface
- Color: dark reddish‑brown, engorged abdomen may appear lighter
- Legs: elongated hind legs for jumping
- Head: prominent eyes, serrated mouthparts
- Mobility: rapid, capable of leaping several inches
Both parasites can be observed on the bird’s skin, around the vent, under the wings, and on the back. Lice remain within the plumage, moving slowly, while fleas are more mobile, often found on the feet or in the litter where they wait to jump onto a host. Visual identification relies on size, body shape, coloration, and the presence of nits for lice or the spiny, jumping morphology for fleas.