The chief effects of lice on their hosts are the irritations they cause. The birds become restless and do not feed or sleep well. And they may injure themselves or damage their feathers by pecking or scratching areas irritated by lice. Weight and egg production may drop.
All lice infecting poultry and birds are the sucking and chewing type.
Mites may be confused with lice. The mites suck blood. In general, each species of lice is confined to a particular kind of poultry, although some may pass from one kind to another when birds are closely associated. All species of poultry lice have certain common habits. All live continuously on feathered hosts and soon die if removed.