Ticks and fleas

[Vikinglike]

Good morning...
New to this....
Is there a flea and tick prevention medicine that I should be giving my 10 week old girls?
Or is there anything that should be applied topically or inside the coop?
We have a lot of ticks in my area!
Thanks!!!

 

[Wolfefarmyard]

Actually chickens are fantastic at EATING ticks, some people get them specifically for bug control.

I wouldn’t be worried about fleas but do look out for mites, if you see any your girls you can buy a dust at the farm store to dust your girls and their coop.

 

[Vikinglike]

I agree that chickens eat fleas and ticks, but does that mean that they won’t be bitten by a tick?

 

[Folly's place]

Plan to check your birds often, at night, with a flashlight, for mites and lice, or whatever. Then treat the flock if any 'bugs' appear, with permethrin, or spinosad if you want to spend $$$ instead. Your birds may be parasite free for a long time, or pick up mites or lice fairly often, depending on your wild bird population near the coop.
Mary

 

[cmom]

I agree. Last year I had my first ever mite infestation. I think it may have been from some wild birds. I had some trying to build nests in the coops. I took the wild bird nests out and sprayed inside the coop thoroughly, floors, ceilings, walls, nest boxes, on and under the roosts and any cracks and crevices where the mites can hide with permethrin spray. At first I noticed feather loss and thought it was because they were molting but upon further inspection discovered the mites. I gave the birds flea baths hoping the flea shampoo would get rid of the mites and it did some but not all. I also used some permethrin dust on them. I did it weekly for awhile because it does not kill the eggs but will kill the pests when they hatch out. I have several coops so I sprayed them all weekly initially as a precaution.