What to do if your chickens and coop Are infested with parasites

Signs, symptoms, and treatment for poultry mice and lice. Poultry lice and mites like to hide in the wood during the day and feast on your chickens flesh and feathers at night, regularly changing bedding, treating coops and chickens with Food grade DE will keep your coop parasite free. Permethrin and herbal remedies are also effective. 

Signs & Symptoms-How to tell if your chickens have mites or lice

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Symptoms
Keep an eye out on your chickens daily for the following signs and symptoms that could indicate they have mites or lice. You should physically pick up and inspect your chickens biweekly during warm months or monthly during colder months for possible parasite infestations. 
Feather loss
Pale comb and wattles
Dirty or crusty vent area
Listless
Dull droopy feathers/bald spots/evidence of feather pulling/broken feathers
Change in appetite/weight loss
Reddish skin or red spots on skin underneath the feathers
Loss in egg production
Seeing insects during inspection
You can also use a white absorbent cloth or paper towel and wipe the underside of your chicken or their roost. If you see signs of blood your chickens have mites or lice and should be treated right away.
If you suspect your chickens and coop are infested with parasites you will need to clean, disinfect, and treat all areas that your chickens have contact with. Everything must be cleaned, disinfected and treated. You can treat everything in the coop (including walls, floors, and ceiling by spraying permethrin  (Note: Permethrin is highly toxic to cats). The safest way to get rid of mites, lice and other parasites can be accomplished by using Food grade DE after removing old bedding, scrubbing all surfaces, and disinfecting the coop. All of your chickens will need to be bathed and you will need to trim the vent feathers on your chickens if there are any signs of mites or lice and treat your birds with the Food grade DE as well. Scroll down to see treatments and best buys on treatments for chicken parasites.

Treatments for Parasites

Permethrin
Permethrin is often used on heavily infested coops and is safe to use on various types of poultry and livestock but is extremely toxic to catsFood Grade DE
Food grade DE is one of the safest and most effective ways to get rid of mites and lice on poultry. Sprinkle DE in your coop, nestboxes, on roosts and anywhere your chickens play. Bathe your chickens in warm water with Dawn original dish soap, rinse well, keep them warm until they dry. After they are completely dry, sprinkle DE under all of their feathers and don't forget the vent area.
​How to use Food Grade DE to Get rid of ParasitesCleaning/disinfecting 
Be sure to clean and disinfect all surfaces and bathe your birds before treatments and before returning them to their coop.

Painting wood surfaces with Non toxic paint
Keeping wood surfaces painted with non toxic paint will deter mites and lice from embedding themselves into the wood. Be sure that the paint you use is non toxic and water based.
 
Bug Bombing Your Coop
This is one of the most dangerous ways to get rid of mites and lice in your coop (See warnings below).
Preventing Parasites
Complete list of parasites that attack chickens and how to prevent and get rid of them.

Warning About Bug Bombing Your Chicken Coop

Bug bombing should only be used as a last resort and can be very dangerous to your chickens and you.
Dropping a bug bomb in the hen house is a quick way to eliminate some of the bugs in there but very dangerous to your chicens! You may have to go this route if infestation is extreme. However,  If you do decide to bug bomb you will need to be very careful.
Important Notes: 
  • Make sure there are no chickens in the hen house and that no chickens enter the hen house for at least five hours after treatment. 
  • You will not be able to eat eggs from hens who have been treated with any type of chemical for at least 7-10 days.
  • Make sure you trim the area around the vent of each chicken 
  • Treat each chicken with Food grade DE or comparable mite and lice powder prior to allowing them back in the hen house or coop.
To bug bomb your Coop You will need to: 
  • Make sure there are no chickens or eggs inside the coop
  • Remove all bedding, removable nest boxes. Take everything out of the hen house!
  • Wash all nest boxes, perches and anything you use for your chickens in a good antibacterial soap. Be sure to rinse well. 
  • The best way to dry and disinfect is to put them out in the Sun and let the sun dry them until they are completely dry.
  • Treat all hens, roosters  and new bedding with Food grade Diatomaceous Earth
  • All bedding, towels or any material that has been used during infestation is removed from the coop, placed in sturdy black trash bags, sealed tightly and removed from the property.
  • All wood surfaces should be painted with non toxic, water based paint. Do not allow your chickens near the paint until it is completely dry. Make sure any splatters and spills are cleaned up right away! (Chickens will eat paint! Make sure you get non toxic water based paint or your chickens can get very sick and die!)

Herbal Remedies for Chickens

There are some herbs that can be used to deter parasites but will do little good if your coop is already infested. However, they are worth looking into and using after you complete a thorough cleaning and treatment of your chickens as they will help prevent further infestations.

Today's Verse

For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. Today if ye will hear his voice, Psalms 95:7

List of Parasites that Infest Chickens & How to Get Rid of Them

A complete list of various parasites that infest chickens and coops and how to get rid of them.

Worms that Infest Chickens and How to Get Rid of Them

There are several types of worms that chickens can get and can easily be treated if caught early enough. See signs, symptoms and treatments for poultry worms.

Common Types of Mites and Lice Found on Poultry

Complete list of mites and lice found on poultry
  • ​http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf