tiny stuff

Tiny invaders on your chicken's head? Let's solve this feathery mystery

Oh, you've spotted the tiny invaders on your chicken's head, welcome to the club of bewildered backyard farmers! That little spread of specks is likely mites or lice, those uninvited guests that think your feathered friend is a five-star hotel. Don't panic, this is a cluck-tastic rite of passage. First, confirm the culprits: check around the base of feathers and under wings. If they're moving, you've got company. A good dust bath with diatomaceous earth often does the trick, or a poultry-safe spray for stubborn cases. I've been there, heart racing, wondering if my flock would forgive me. They will. For more on scaling down your chicken dreams, check out "Tiny garden, tiny flock: is a bantam the fowl for you.