Not only dogs and cats suffer from fleas, chickens can also carry the mobile parasites. Fleas on chickens are common during hot summer days and are of a different kind from the fleas that plague cats and dogs. Although fleas are less common in chickens than lice or mites, the parasites can cause a lot of itching and irritation. Because fleas can jump, they can also land on people where they can cause itchy bumps. Fortunately, fleas are easy to recognize, treat and prevent.
Fleas
Chicken fleas are small brown insects with six strong jumping legs. In contrast to lice and mites, fleas are very mobile. This is the most important characteristic with which you can distinguish fleas from mites and lice. Fleas can become a real nuisance for your chickens. They cause a lot of itching, irritation and nuisance and can cause the chickens to sag. With a real pest, the fleas can also jump on people or animals and cause itching and irritation. However, a chicken flea prefers a chicken and they need a host chicken to survive. Chicken fleas are also of a different kind than the dog or cat flea.
Recognizing fleas in chickens
The fleas on chickens can be seen by humans with the naked eye. Because a flea jumps off the chicken again after biting, the fleas are usually not found on the chickens, but in the vicinity of the chickens. However, flea eggs can be found between the feathers of the chickens. The fleas themselves can often be found in the cage. There you can also find eggs or larvae of the fleas. This white worm-like larva cannot suck blood and often lives on the feces of the chickens. But a flea infestation can often also be seen in the behavior of the chickens. Symptoms in chickens from fleas can include:
- Chickens are restless and under stress.
- Chickens can be more aggressive or behave differently.
- The chickens lay no or fewer eggs.
- There are flakes between the feathers.
- The chickens peck with the beak between the feathers.
- The chickens have bald spots and feather dropout
Influence of fleas on health
Fleas have a bad effect on the health of the chicken. The itching and irritation can cause stress, which in turn can lead to a reduced laying and aggressive behavior. In addition, pecking through the itching can cause wounds and infections. In the worst case, the chickens can suffer from anemia due to repeated blood loss. This makes chickens dull and pale. So it is wise to treat fleas in chickens at all times. Chicken fleas can also bite humans, causing small, red, itchy bumps. However, chicken fleas are harmless to humans and a flea bump does not need to be treated.
To treat
Fleas can be treated with flea repellants available at pet stores and specialty stores. The products usually contain the active substance pyrethrin, but other substances are also possible. However, not all flea repellants are suitable for chickens if you still want to eat the eggs. Some substances end up in the eggs and can be harmful to humans. For example, products with fipronil are not recommended for use in chickens whose eggs or meat you still want to eat. However, many anti-flea agents are also harmless to chickens and humans. Therefore, preferably buy a product that is really suitable for chickens or poultry.
How to treat
For the treatment against fleas it is best to use a spray with which you spray the chickens. Fleas are often in warm places under the wings and near the anus. So spray these places extra well. In addition, the coop and the surroundings of the chicken must be cleaned and treated. Remove all bedding, food scraps, excrement and any other loose items in the cage. Clean everything with diluted chlorine and then spray everything with water. Let the cage dry thoroughly and then treat the cage again with a flea repellent. Repeat this a week later, as eggs may still hatch.
Appearance
It is best to prevent fleas as much as possible, because once a flea infestation has started, it is difficult to get rid of them. You can prevent fleas by treating chickens preventively in the summer with a flea repellent. In addition, there are a number of other methods to prevent fleas in chickens.
Dust bath
Taking a dust bath works against lice, mites and fleas in chickens. The sharp sand kills the fleas. Especially a dust bath of white sand, lava flour and diatomaceous earth, possibly supplemented with flea repellant, can have a preventive effect against fleas.
Tobacco stems, ferns and tansy
Tobacco stems, ferns and tansy are plants that can repel fleas, lice and mites because the parasites simply don’t like them. It can therefore help to mix the dried plants with the ground cover in the cage. You can also choose to plant these plants in the chicken coop.
Hygiene
If the chicken coop is clean and free of food residues, the risk of fleas is also reduced. Fleas are often contracted by vermin that end up on the chicken manure or residual waste. In addition, the larva of the fleas are difficult to feed if there is no chicken manure. Of course it is almost impossible to keep the cage free of chicken manure and food residue, but regular cleaning can certainly help.