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1. Head Lice    2. Body Lice     3. Northern Fowl Mite      4. Stick tight Flea     5. Red Mite

Have you ever spent days itching and scratching all day and all night? Well, all of these critters cause discomfort to your birds and to their health. They feel like a hundred mosquito bites, bee stings, chiggers or ant bites on you and me.

Most lice, mites and fleas are not that easy to see with your naked eye if you don’ t know what you are looking for or you have dark colored birds and if you aren’ t quick when you spread those feathers to look for them you won’ t see them. If you see your birds turning their heads often and pecking at their feathers and you’ re sure they aren’ t preening, it is usually a sign that there is a problem beginning in your barn or coop.

Look closely at the combs and wattles of your birds. Stick tight fleas will be noticeable although they sometimes look like peck marks (black scabs) when the roosters or hens get feisty and peck at each other. Look Closely!!! They can spread into the feathers if they are not kept in check and move down the neck and under the wings. These should be treated Vaseline or another product that will smother them, if they are only located on the comb and wattles. Spread the product on the comb and wattles repeating treatment every other day for a week. Usually by then the fleas have smothered. They should be fairly easy to rub off with your finger or nail, a coarse piece of cloth or a soft toothbrush.

There are many cousins to blood sucking lice. The most common are the head louse, the body louse, the shaft louse and the wing louse. There are Red mites, Northern & Tropical fowl mites. And a dreaded Stick-tight Flea. Many only come out at night, suck blood from your birds then go hide until next feeding time. They destroy feathers, leave scabs on your birds’ skin, and make them weak and anemic. It takes a long time for them to get back in shape and to grow new feathers. Many times you never see these types of fleas or lice so treat your birds on a regular basis. Not only will the flea’ s, etc. destroy feathers, your birds peck at them constantly to itch & scratch which will tear the feathers up.

If you are fairly sure your barn is not over-run with these critters prevention and treatment can be fairly simple.

1. Dust your floors, cracks & crevices where the parasites like to hide during the day. Do these as often as you feel will keep your barn parasite free and you in control of the situation. Clean your barn every spring with a thorough cleaning, removing feed dishes, and water and nest boxes. If you can, shut your birds out during this time. Either dust or spray with one of the available products. Replace litter, feed dishes and water. Some liquid spray concentrates can be used when the birds are still inside but be sure it’ s warm and they have time to dry before night. They won’ t like it and it can sometimes cause undue stress.

2. Dust or spray your birds often to keep them free as much as possible from fleas, mites and lice. Remember, nights are their biggest enemy for this is when many of the blood sucking parasites come out and you aren’ t there to see them.

Products are available in the store of our website to help you take care of your birds and

premises.