Problem with stick fleas

[ggbrit]

I have a flock of about 35 chickens that are fed organically. They have outdoor runs in the daytime and roost at night in two hen houses.

I noticed that one or two had block dots, that looked similar to tar, on their heads and comb. They also seemed to have excessive loss of feathers on the back, including split and broken ones. I took one of the chickens to a vet who was knowledgeable on birds but wasn't a chicken specialist. She suggested using a powder with pyrethrin but I feed my chickens only organic feed, and don't feel comfortable using a potentially toxic material on them. Does anyone have any suggestions? I know I need to thoroughly clean out the runs and houses and, again, I need to find something that isn't toxic.

Any help would be most appreciated.

 

[loveourbirds]

pyrethrin is organic made from chrysanthamums. it is probably the safest solution. another somewhat natural solution would be to make some nicotine spray by boiling tobacco. I don't have good instructions on this. (personally I use the pyrethrin powder).

once your problem is taken care of, you can add diatomaceous earth to help minimize reinfestiations. (not sure how it works on fleas, but does a good job on most other bugs)

hope this makes you feel better, its pretty safe

brian

 

[ggbrit]

Thanks for the response. OK - that does make me feel better - do you think the pyrethrin it would affect the eggs? I do use DE, but perhaps not effectively enough. Can I ask how you use it? On the chickens, in the coop? Thanks.

 

[missnu01]

DE is not terribly useful at all. I think the Internet started the hype... But it just isn't effective pest control at all... Not for mites or lice or fleas... Or ants...

 

[loveourbirds]

I only use it as a preventative, it is calcium so if the chicken eats it its not harmful. when I use it I put 2 cups in their bedding (12 square feet 2-3 inches deep). then I "paint" the coops floor with it. I do know its effective against any bugs who will eat it.
it will quit working as soon as it gets wet.

if you already have a problem it wont work to kill the bugs. you will have to use something with a poison in it. the pyretherin is my favorite choice for low level poison. it usually wont affect the hatch rate of eggs any worse than the bugs, and if you wash your eggs before eating it should wash off. but if you can do without the eggs for a few days, I would discard them -better safe than sorry. if you do decide to wash them make sure the water is warmer than the egg. this will force the powder outward instead of into the egg's pores.

I don't do this, but I have heard of people adding some pyretherin dust to sand, and put it in a box for the chickens to dust bathe in. this may help.

if none of this works, you can use ivomec (not sure of spelling) its a pour on insecticide for cattle. its a little harsh but it works well.

brian

 

[loveourbirds]

DE is not terribly useful at all. I think the Internet started the hype... But it just isn't effective pest control at all... Not for mites or lice or fleas... Or ants...

you can use DE as an effective insecticide by mixing it (sometimes) for ants I would dissolve some sugar in some water and pour in DE until its thick. let it dry and break it up. for lice and fleas im going to guess if you mix it with some blood it ?might? work.

it will only work if the insects are legless or if they eat it however.

there is another chemical i worked with as a master gardner. its a byproduct of making beer, its called spinosad. its supposed to be safe for consumption. i know it worked well on plants, im not sure about using it on chickens. your local extention service may be able to help.

 

[Texas Chickens]

I went yesterday to a womans home to get 2 little goslings for companions to our 1 little gosling and noticed that they had a few stick fleas around their eyes. I said OH you have stick fleas also and how we have tried everything for them and nothing seems to work. She told me she uses Masters IG Regulator Insect Growth Regulator 2 times a yr and it works great on them. I asked her where she got it at and she said the feed store. She also uses Frontline under the wings in her chickens 1/2 cc but just the broody hens. SHe has been using the IG Regulator for years. She sprays the coops with it and when its dry its safe for the chickens to go back into.

I went Google looking for this IG and found the following on it

I G Regulator (Nylar-Precor) is an insect growth regulator that is odorless. It is essentially a protein. When certain insects are exposed to it early in development, they are not able to properly mature into eating or reproducing adults. Generally they have very little toxicity to mammals since it disrupts the growth and processes specific to insects. It causes sterilization of adult insects. Nylar pesticides will last several weeks per application.

This Insect Growth Regulator (IGR) will generally have very little toxicity to mammals since it disrupts the growth and development processes specific to insects. They contain a synthetic juvenile hormone "look-alike" which disrupts the normal insect growth. It also disrupts the normal life cycle thus killing these insects. When certain insects are exposed to it early in development they are not able to properly mature into eating or reproducing adults.

However Chickens are not mammals I can't find anything on IG and chickens cept for what she told me she uses.

Has anyone heard of IG Regualtor use in chicken coops and yards? We live in sand the little boogers love sand.

 

[birdworld]

I put cloves of garlic in their water. and use ashes from my wood stove in their sand dust bath. I don't have any complaints about the eggs tasting different.