Bird Louse / Chewing Louse

Found on the feathers or skin of birds, or sometimes temporarily on clothing/surfaces after contact with birds or bird nests.

Feeds on feathers, skin fragments, dermal debris, and sometimes blood if the skin is broken.

They are permanent ectoparasites that spend their entire life cycle on a host; they move by crawling and cannot fly or jump. They use specialized mandibles to chew on organic matter.

They do not transmit diseases to humans and cannot survive long off a host. They cause irritation, feather damage, and stress in birds which can impact poultry health.