FLEAS!!!!!

[JessFarmer]

So everytime I go into the coop I am attacked by fleas. I have looked over my birds and never see them on the actual birds so am thinking they are living in the bedding. I have removed the bedding and spread DE everywhere. Should I dust the birds as well? Should I dust individually or can I just make a dust bath and add DE to it? I have over 50 birds and they free range all day.

 

[Sagey_7878]

Since they’re getting into you, I recommend you individually dust the birds. Put DE in coop and change bedding first. It’ll be hard to dust each one as you have 50, so do some over a week. Good luck!

 

[sylviethecochin]

I wouldn't want to DE fifty birds, and there are a lot of studies that show DE doesn't actually do much if you have an infestation (it can keep levels down, via attrition, but it won't pull levels down.)

Permethrin is safe to use on and around fowl. You can buy a permethrin concentrate at most farm stores (it's a really common livestock pesticide) and put it in a sprayer with some water. Spray down all of the bedding [And cracks, nest boxes, corners, perches], and when the chickens are on the roost, spray them as well. Reapply in 5-7 days to get the newly-hatched eggs as well.

EDT: This sort of sprayer makes everything easier.