Fleas.....

[Mamato6]

This may be a stupid question but can chickens get fleas? They are all over the yard right now because my mother in law rescued a puppy from the middle of the road at her boyfriends house and brought her home without giving her a flea bath/flea meds and it infested 3 other dogs which then created a whole yard full. Anywho, if they can get fleas how do I treat them? I have diatomaceous earth but I know that's a touchy 50/50 type subject on here.

 

[Mace Gill]

This may be a stupid question but can chickens get fleas? They are all over the yard right now because my mother in law rescued a puppy from the middle of the road at her boyfriends house and brought her home without giving her a flea bath/flea meds and it infested 3 other dogs which then created a whole yard full. Anywho, if they can get fleas how do I treat them? I have diatomaceous earth but I know that's a touchy 50/50 type subject on here.

You know? I honestly don't know if chickens can get fleas ... but if you're concerned ...

One, put some wood ash in where they dust bathe.
Two, if you DO think they're infested, gently rub some FOOD GRADE DE onto them ... a little goes a long way, be very careful NOT to get it on their eyes, near their mouths, or their vents.

 

[aart]

Most fleas that infest mammals will/can not live on birds....
but I've read about stick tight fleas on chickens.
I would not treat a bird that I had not positively ID'd an external parasites on.

Have you checked them over real well for pests?
Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

If you do find some...check out this thread:

http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1134783/permethrin-spray

 

[Mamato6]

Thank you @aart. They're definitely dog fleas, we just finally got them completely off the dogs.

 

[aart]

Thank you @aart. They're definitely dog fleas, we just finally got them completely off the dogs.

Took one dog on trip, he was treated just prior, but got infested with fleas where we were visiting. Capstar for both dogs, this kills them all on the dogs within an hour, then a different flea treatment for a couple months. Took 2-3 months to get them totally out of the house tho...SMH...I did a LOT of vacuuming.