Hobby and backyard mass are democratic because they provide access to fresh eggs and substance for the menage and offer the potential difference to trade the excess for profit . Free - range flocks offer the added welfare of working as instinctive pest ascendence by eating annoying insects such as tick , mosquitoes and more .
“ A number of parasites attack poultry by either give suck blood or feed on the skin , plumage or scales on the skin , ” order Jacquie Jacob , Ph.D. , at the University of Kentucky .
leech that exist outside the bird ’s trunk are calledectoparasites . These gadfly result unsightly grade on the boo , affect health and reduce egg production or diminish the carcase note value . Ectoparasites are classified as either continuous or temporary : Continuous parasites pass their entire grownup life on the host whereas impermanent leech feed on the horde and live elsewhere .
The most common uninterrupted parasites let in sticktight flea flea , northerly fowl mites , scaly leg mites and chicken lice , while fowl ticks , Gallus gallus mite and bed bugs are the most prevalent temporary parasites . “ Generally , these species have a cosmopolitan distribution , ” say Amy Murillo , Ph.D. , at the University of California , Riverside . “ It does n’t seem to count where those Bronx cheer live . ”
veritable inspection of the flock is the only method for confirming and controlling the bearing of sponger . In this article , Jacob and Murillo pop the question tips on how to identify these leech in your flock and apportion their expertise for free these pests from your flock .
Recognizing Infestation
Inspect your flockat least once a month . Ideally , all wench should be examined ; however , if it ’s a large pile or it ’s too hard to catch all the razzing , concentre on the males , birds that depend ominous or dame with damaged or commercially trimmed snoot .
“ It is unlikely that ectoparasites will be equally parcel out among a flock , and these birds are most probable to harbor detectable levels , ” Murillo says . “ Regularly supervise the birds will aid you catch an infestation early , which will make it easier to control . ”
luckily , each fowl parasite is typical and , after see what to look for , can be easy identified .
Sticktight Fleas
Sticktight flea are the easiest parasite to name and can be spotted without handle the bird . They burrow around the bird ’s optic and wattle , where they lay bollock .
“ calculate for pocket-sized dark-brown insects that look like dots cling to or plant in the sarcoid part of the chicken ’s pass around the eye , ” Jacob says .
Severe infestations can cause cecity or even kill youthful shuttle . Gallus gallus raise in wire cages 3 to 4 base off the storey are n’t prone to sticktight flea flea , but because most hobby tidy sum are cage - complimentary and/or gratuitous - range , this parasite can become problematic .
Fleas are obvious through reflection , but to observe other parasites , the birds must actually be handled .
Northern Fowl Mites
The most dominant poultry parasite , these line suckers are found in plenty around the nation , but they opt coolheaded clime and are most troublesome in the winter and spring months . They cause anemia , weight loss , diminish carcase quality and reduced eggs production . “ Mites are fast , scurrying soupcon in the vent region , ” Jacob says .
see for dark or dirty - looking feathers in that release part as this is a classic house of northern fowl tinge , according to Murillo . “ That marked-up look is have by the cast skins , feces and eggs of the jot , ” she say .
Scaly Leg Mites
Apropos of their name , these touch prefer the birds ’ wooden leg to the vent arena . They burrow into the scale of the toe and low-spirited legs , aka shank . “ This do the scales to bulge out and causes deformities in the leg and toes , ” Jacob says .
Lice
Lice are the final case of continuous parasite that unremarkably pretend poultry flocks . audit the birdie ’s hide , titty and under the annexe . “ Look for small , yellow - brown , cigar - shaped , quick - moving insects , ” Jacob says .
“ Start in the vent region , ” Murillo says , “ and play around the dead body up to the top of the foreland . Part the feathers and look for any scurrying plant louse . ” Louse egg are confiscate in clumps to feathers and they may be found all over the soundbox .
Just Visiting
All of the antecedently mentioned ectoparasites are considered continuous parasite and dwell on the bird for their entire sprightliness cycle . Fowl tick , Gallus gallus jot and bed bugs , however , feed on poultry mickle but live elsewhere . “ Off - host pest live near the doll in fissure or crevices in the environment , ” Murillo says . “ This may include in nest box seat or near perches . ”
Examine these potential hiding spot with a flashlight , and also directly canvas the raspberry at Nox when these ectoparasites are active .
Fowl Ticks
Also called blue ticks , these are very different from the check mark found on cats and dogs . “ These tick have a soft , wrinkled physical structure and range of a function from a sparkle to dark cherry brown , ” Jacob say . “ They lay their eggs in wad and can be found in clumps all over the bird . ”
Chicken Mites
volaille mites are flyspeck but can be seen with the naked eye . They ’re often confused with northern poultry mites , but these pests do n’t live on the bird . These mites run across the bird ’s hide and feathers . “ Chicken mites are typically ascertain in prominent numbers , ” Jacob says .
Bed Bugs
seam bugs are also unremarkably line up in large numbers . “ The adult is ruddy brown , and the immatures are off - white in color , ” Jacob says , noting that the symptom of these three parasites are alike in nature . “ razzing will have bloody lesion of various sizes depending on the sponger that fed on them . ”
Flock Management
bar is the most effective control for parasite . Management tactics andbiosecurity practicesreduce the opportunity for the introduction or spreading of parasites in your flock . Understanding how each parasite is introduced into a great deal is primal to foreclose it from overtaking your chick . “ Sticktight flea are tricky because they can overrun rodents and other wild animals , ” Murillo says . “ attempt to prevent these creature from coming in link with your flock . ”
varnish cracks or crevices in the coop where these animals can potentially enter . make clean the house on a regular basis , and hive away any supererogatory provender in sealed containers so that gnawer are n’t attracted to the hencoop domain . “ tinge are in all likelihood fare in from tempestuous birds and their nests , so keep these by from your plenty , ” she says . Discourage wild fowl from build up nest in the proximity of your flock ’s living quarters , but retrieve that wild birds are n’t the only possible source of introduction . “ The parasites can also be pick up at domestic fowl shows , ” Jacob says . “ Limiting striking with other birds at show is important to protecting your pot . ”
Lice are species - specific , so infestations are probably coming from other chickens . Examine and quarantine new birds to the sight . “ It ’s also crucial to call back that many international parasites live part of their life-time round off the bird in the environment so these areas should be treated during an irruption as well , ” Jacob aver .
Providing chickens access to adust bathcan allow a natural , organic alternative to limiting sponge infestation .
“ As part of my PhD research , we tested the consumption of [ nutrient - grade ] diatomaceous earth for ectoparasite control , ” Murillo says , “ [ DE ] is made of microscopic sharp-worded particle , which damages the exoskeleton of the ectoparasites . ” She recommends mixing 6 cups DE with 25 pounds of lap act sand in a plastic container , such as a youngster ’s swimming pool or a cementum - mixing binful . “ Simply dust the shuttlecock or the surroundings is not enough to hold in ectoparasite , ” she pronounce . “ The birds must dot bathe in the material , which really gets the DE into the feathers . ”
The dust mixture has not had damaging side effects on the birds , but the DE may gravel humans when used in poorly ventilated areas . Murillo encourages keepers to wear junk masks when handling the dust mixture to forestall respiratory irritation .
Beak trimming is another direction practice that can naturally tighten cuss pressures . In commercial poultry operations it ’s common practice to cut back bird ’ beaks when they are vernal . “ This is done to prevent trauma or cannibalism among birds , which is vulgar , ” Murrillo tell . “ In just the last couple of years , new more - welfare - friendly method have been explicate to reduce the beaks . ”
late enquiry also indicates while novel method are friendlier to the birds , it ’s also helpful in check parasites . “ In my research , we find that this novel method , which leaves longer , more entire beaks , allow bird to groom ectoparasites like soupcon and lice more effectively , ” Murillo say .
Even though backyard and hobby flocks rarely have their beaks trimmed , this is important to keep in mind for birds that have naturally odd orbroken beaks . “ Birds that have gap or misalignment between the upper and lower nozzle may entertain higher population of jot or dirt ball because they are not capable to groom as well , ” Murillo says .
Aside from the “ ick ” factor to overcome when handling bird plagued with parasite infestation , there is no need to vex about change the gadfly from bird to human handler . “ Most domestic fowl parasites are poultry - specific , though in a heavy infestation they can transfer to humans and cause irritation , ” Jacob says . “ They normally ca n’t inhabit off of an avian horde . ”
“ Lice may crawl on people when heavily infested fowl are handled , but will speedily fall off and die , ” Murillo say . “ This is true also for mites , though mites are general snort parasite and may overrun other raspberry . ” Sticktight flea are the exception : They are n’t Gallus gallus - specific and can infest rodents , cat-o'-nine-tails and other birds .
drop in egg production and lethargy because of anaemia or plume loss are possible indications that your flock may be suffering from a parasite infestation . Rather than waiting for these outward signals , regularly scrutinize your flock for parasites . It ’s not only expert animal agriculture , it ’s also significant for kernel birds as there are few products that can be used on birds destined for human consumption .
This clause to begin with appeared in the March / April 2017 issue ofHobby Farms .
