Ectoparasites are those that eat on the cutis , scales or feathers of your chickens . These may make problem for your flock in terms of egg production and health , and in severe cases , may lead to fatalities . epizoon are either continuous or temporary sponge . uninterrupted parasites spend their entire adult lifecycle on the fowl , while irregular sponger populate off of the bird , but provender on its blood . Amy Murillo , PhD , at the University of California , identifies three epizoon to await for in your flock and shares her expertise for curb parasite populations .
1. Northern Fowl Mites
Northern fowl pinch are the most rife parasites among wimp , dwell in the feather along the wench ’ vents . These parasites are bump in flocks around the country , but they favour cooler climate and are most troublesome in the winter and spring months .
2. Lice
Liceare another common epizoon . There are several mintage of dirt ball found on chickens , including the chicken body louse , dig louse and fluff plant louse . Lice are pallid yellow or white in color and mostly feed on plume .
3. Sticktight Fleas
Sticktight fleas are also problematic . “ The adult fleas embed themselves into the face , combing and wattles of the bird while they blood - feed , ” Murillo says . “ The unfledged fleas ( larvae ) live in organic fabric , such as bedding . ”
Controlling Chicken Parasites
Cleanliness and biosecurity are the first lines of defence against parasites in your flock . Clean the chicken house regularly , and seal any cracks or crevices to trammel rodent access code .
“ Keep wild birds and animate being away from your mess , fix visitor and quarantine new birds , ” Murillo apprise .
Inspect your bird on a regular basis , ideally monthly , and monitor parasite population . sooner , study all raspberry , but if it is a large flock or it is too hard to trance all the birds , focus on Male , bird that look ill , or birds with damage or commercially prune beak .
“ It is unlikely that ectoparasites will be every bit broadcast among a troop , and these doll are most likely to harbor detectable levels , ” Murillo says .
insect powder may be an option to treat infestation . Murillo admonish not all insecticides are legal for role on birds in all states . Some may only be used in the chicken chicken coop or environ surround . The University of California , Riverside , department of veterinary entomology hosts asearchable databasefor registered insecticides by state that may be helpful in identifying product you could apply .
Another option is providing a food - gradediatomaceous earthdust bath .
“ We found that the most effective way to apply DE is to amalgamate about 6 cups with approximately 25 pounds of wash play sand in a plastic container , such as a swimming pool or cementum intermixture bin , ” Murillo says .
Simply dusting the birds or the environment is not enough . The birds must dustbathe in it and get the DE into their feathers . Diatomaceous earth is made of microscopic sharp corpuscle that damage the exoskeleton of the ectoparasites .
“ DE may irritate the great unwashed if not used in a well ventilated surface area and wear junk masque when handling , but does not harm the razz , ” Murillo says .
If you catch parasites in your flock ahead of time , you may be able to preclude damage to the foresightful - terminus health of your chicken .
