I found these on the porch yesterday. I thought they were seeds or pollen at first. Turns out they are insects of some kind. It had rained and our chickens were on the cement porch (could these have come from the chickens?) I saw the purpleish color in the rain water, took some in to my old microscope. Grossed out the family when they saw these things activlly squirming around. They also jump and can live out of the water. I think the water had just traped them. We live in Oregon in a high desert region. I had mentioned the chickens because they had just had a dirt bath and were on the porch shaking the dust off. Any idea what these fellas are?

http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h83/daxB/Bug012.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h83/daxB/Bug009.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h83/daxB/Bug004.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h83/daxB/Bug017.jpg
http://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h83/daxB/Bug006.jpg

These are Collembola, commonly knowh as spring tails. These little guys are pro-insects (before) and have worldwide distribution. They live in the soil, detritus, on top of fresh water, in the ice caps in Antarctica (yes, really!), etc. They are major recyclers in the Nature game and are very harmless. Since they do not associate w/ chickens per se, I'd guess that was happenstance (or the chickens were trying to eat them)!