Fleas!

[chickenmomma16]

When I picked up my new chickens from my aunt I was informed they had fleas. It doesn't seem to be bothering the chickens but I dont want it to become in infestation. Walking in their previous coop resulted in fleas crawling up our legs Yuck! I have been kinda keeping them at bay but the problem isn't getting better...

Here is what I have done:
-From the second they set foot in my new coop I have put poulty dust (Permethrin I think) in their enviroment.
-I pick out all the poop about once or twice a week. (seems to be where the fleas hang out, in the dirty places)
-Now I have DE in the enviroment.

I have heard fleas will think twice before making their home in the coop if there is cedar in the coop. Has anyone found this to be the case? I was thinking about adding some cedar shavings to my white pine shavings. I DO have plenty of ventilation in the coop and where they roost for the night is right next to an open/screened window.

Any other experience with these pests?

 

[Erin~TheChickenLover]

I have experience with lice and mites. We get them on our chickens every summer. I spray the coops and pens with Permethrin 10 and spray the birds with Manna Pro's Poultry Protector. It works great. You can add ash from a fire or DE into the chickens dusting holes and that will help as well. I wouldn't put large amounts of cedar into an inclosed coop. It is said that the aroma and oils in cedar can be bad for chickens if their is a large amount of cedar in a small place without good air flow. Cedar is fine in an open pen, though. In general, if you can smell the cedar stongly then it is not okay. If you can't smell it too strongly then it is fine.

 

[chickenbythesea]

i wouldn't use cedar at all... it's just not good for the chickens. I hope you're able to get rid of the fleas