There ’s something bugging backyard chickens : ectoparasites — fleas , liceand speck or any parasites that live on outside of the chicken . You might have noticed your chickens seeming “ off ” at one clock time or another , being unusually stung or experience less testis production . You might have even realize undimmed - ruby mites on egg you just collect . External parasites are a fact of life for chickens and livestock . They ’re often dealt with by your birds without any intervention , and beyond that , they can be controlled and are n’t the end of the world .
University of California , Riverside , researchersstudied100 backyard chickens in 20 daub around Southern California during the summertime and discover that outside good deal are more potential to have ectoparasites than chickens continue indoors . This makes plenty of sense because chickens kept indoors for their whole life are n’t exposed to most born elements , whereas those with accession to the outdoors get the good and the badness of the surrounding environment — of which parasites are a lifelike part . I do n’t see the UCR finding as being awful tidings , though it ’s a theme that I think every chicken keeper should learn about for the wellness of your heap . I have in person dealt with mites on chickens , and those chicken have lived to tell the fib .
Reality Check
In this work , 16 of the 20 crybaby - keeping properties survey had ectoparasites . On many property , a few to a twelve private parasite were found per bird , but some louse and flea specie were “ abundant”—meaning dozens to hundreds of single parasite were present on some bird . Researchers even deal impairment by one species of flea to be “ serious ” on two properties . One bird louse species in particular was most prevalent , found at half of the properties and on about one - third of the birds .
Three thought on this :
Ban Parasites From Your Coop
When an international - parasite population get out of mastery , it can decrease reproductive potential , egg production and weight gain in domestic fowl . In very serious situations , it can also stimulate anemia and destruction . Some veterinarians surmise they toy a purpose in transmitting diseases , such as cephalitis virus , fowl pox virusand bacterium .
“ Parasite multifariousness in peridomestic muckle greatly exceed what is routinely observed on commercial wimp raft and highlights a motive for increased biosecurity and development of ectoparasite control options for homeowners , ” the bailiwick reports . I definitely agree with this statement . External sponge are a reality , but there arethings that can be doneto reduce their populations :
