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. The eggs are attached to the feathers.
Young lice resemble adults except in color and size.
They differ in preferred locations on the host, and these preferences have given rise to the common names applied to various species. In general, the incubation period of lice eggs is 4 to 7 days, and development of the lice from hatching to the adult stage requires 17 to 21 days. Mating takes place on the fowl, and egg laying begins 2 or 3 days after lice mature. The number of eggs probably ranges from 50 to 300 per female louse. It usually is located near the skin in the down, or at the base of the feathers on the top and back of the head and beneath the bill.