Sticktight Fleas and Treatment

[thecarmiearmy]

Hello all,

I was checking over my bantams yesterday and found these tiny brown bugs attached to the skin around their combs and in the folds of their waddles. I used a pair of tweezers to pick and pull off what I found. They're stubborn and stay attached to the skin, I had to tug them off. Not a ton like in the pic below, but this is what they look like.

At first I thought these were mites, so I have a list of supplies and part of a treatment plan written out... But, upon further research these are called "Sticktight Fleas". I'm going to update my list of supplies and treatment as I go. When it's finished I'll reply in this thread and I'd like to hear any and everyone's insight. This is my first time dealing with parasites in my chickens, so I'm understandably wracked with stress and anxiety! I also have 3 Lavender Orpingtons in a separate run and coop beside the bantams (they don't get along.) I assume I will be needing to treat them as well. So 6 chickens in total!

Thank you and I will be keeping an eye on this thread.

 

[sourland]

A permethrin solution applied to them or a permethrin powder will eliminate them. @casportpony care to advise?

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

Vasiline to suffocate them.
Olive oil to.
Ivermectin sheep drench (orally and a drop on their head).
Permethrin in their coop.

 

[casportpony]

A permethrin solution applied to them or a permethrin powder will eliminate them. @casportpony care to advise?

This is how I treat them:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...as-echidnophaga-gallinacea-on-a-duck.1283862/

 

[thecarmiearmy]

This is how I treat them:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...as-echidnophaga-gallinacea-on-a-duck.1283862/

Should I treat my chickens before cleaning the coop and run? I usually let them run about the backyard when I clean. But I read about needing to spray their frequent spaces in the yard, too.

 

[casportpony]

Should I treat my chickens before cleaning the coop and run? I usually let them run about the backyard when I clean. But I read about needing to spray their frequent spaces in the yard, too.

You can treat them and turn them loose. Your coop needs to be stripped of all bedding and ideally that bedding should be burned. Once the coop is stripped, spray the coop, also spray all of the places they dust bathe.

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

I just leave my chickens in (my run is open) and because I do the ivermectin nothing can live on them for a while so they won't get back on them and live.

 

[thecarmiearmy]

You can treat them and turn them loose. Your coop needs to be stripped of all bedding and ideally that bedding should be burned. Once the coop is stripped, spray the coop, also spray all of the places they dust bathe.

Would you also recommend shoveling out the top layer of dirt and burning it with the bedding? There is no actual flooring installed.

 

[casportpony]

Would you also recommend shoveling out the top layer of dirt and burning it with the bedding? There is no actual flooring installed.

When I treated mine I just sprayed the dirt. We are not allowed to burn here, so my bedding just went to the manure pile. Luckily none got reinfested.

 

[Fluffy Lambs]

When I treated mine I just sprayed the dirt. We are not allowed to burn here, so my bedding just went to the manure pile. Luckily none got reinfested.

That's what I do