Do Chickens Get Fleas

Chickens are beloved animals for people who own farms and even those who don’t. Even if you’ve never met a chicken, you probably still care about them. But do you know how difficult it can be to take care of a chicken? Do chickens suffer from the same sort of issues that other animals do? For example, do chickens get fleas?

Chickens do in fact get fleas just like cats and dogs and other household pets do. There are in fact specific fleas, like the Sticktight flea, that are well known among chicken owners because they seem to flock towards chickens above all other animals.

While chickens do get fleas and can suffer from them regularly, there are safe and easy ways to get rid of an infestation and cure your little bird from the annoyance of them.

Do Chickens Get Fleas

Yes, chickens are well known for catching fleas. The European Chicken Flea, the Western Chicken Flea, and the Sticktight Flea are three varieties of fleas that may harm chickens.

If the population of European Chicken Fleas becomes high enough, they can infect humans, pets, and other birds.

Where you reside has a direct impact on the sorts of fleas that might affect your flock.

It’s critical to remember all of the signs and adverse effects that fleas in your chicken coop might bring.

Anemia, poor egg production, irritability, lethargy, and restlessness are all symptoms of flea infestation. Fleas on chickens are less frequent than mites and lice on poultry.

Related Articles:

• Do Chickens get mites?

How Do I Know If My Chickens Have Fleas

When you start to question if your hens are infested with fleas, there are a few things you may do to confirm it.

To begin, take note of all symptoms and check whether your hens exhibit any. Is there anything wrong with them? Are there ulcers around the eyes of the chicken? Are they acting a little off? Is there a noticeable decline in the number of eggs you’re producing?

After you’ve answered these questions, you should inspect for fleas among your poultry. You’ll need to detach the chicken’s feathers and examine their skin closely. Pay close attention to the areas surrounding the chicken’s breast and tail.

If you encounter fleas, remember that they are adults. Adult fleas make up a modest fraction of the total number of fleas you’re dealing with. Numerous fleas will be found on the floor of the coops and in the excrement of the hens.

If your hens have fleas, it’s time to change gears and start treating them.

How Do You Get Rid Of Fleas On Chickens

To rid chickens of fleas begins with moving your chickens from their coop for the time being. Next, get rid of just about all things in their coop and toss it into the trash, or you can burn it. Then you must scrub the coop well with water and a mix of vinegar or professional cleaning product.

There are a few things you can do to get rid of fleas on chickens.

• One is to use a dust bath, add some Diatomaceous Earth (Amazon link) for extra protection. This will help to remove the fleas from the chicken’s feathers and skin.
• Making natural essential oils mixed with water is also a great help.
  • Tea tree oil (Amazon link)
  • Eucalyptus oil (Amazon link)
  • Lavender oil (Amazon link)
  • Cedarwood oil (Amazon link)
• You can also consider using Diatomaceous Earth (Amazon link) around the perimeter of the chicken coop and in the chicken’s nesting boxes. This will help to keep fleas from getting into the chicken coop in the first place.

It is important to remember that when you are cleaning your chicken coop, you should keep the birds far away from it so that they don’t stay close and continue to fester with the fleas. You may also have to individually wash the birds one by one and then inspect them after to make sure no fleas are hiding in their fur.

Can Chickens Get Fleas From Cats

Chicken fleas and cat fleas are actually different species, so cats cannot spread fleas to chickens and vice versa. However, there are certain fleas that will infect and bother both chickens and wild cats. Additionally, there are fleas that will make a home on certain animals and chickens as well.

So it is possible for a chicken to catch fleas from another animal or even humans. Most parasites are fairly host-specific and fleas are just one of those.

Do Chicken Fleas Bite Humans

Fleas exist in many different varieties, many of which can come into touch with people. Although most species prefer a furry or feathery host, if the opportunity arises, they will not turn down a human blood meal.

Fleas are blood-sucking insects that require the warm blood of a mammal to feed and thrive. When their preferred host is unavailable, humans are a good substitute. Dog fleas, cat fleas, and, of course, human fleas are the most prevalent species of fleas that are prone to attack humans.

What We Learned

So, do chickens get fleas? Chickens do in fact get fleas just like cats and dogs, but they can be more difficult to keep on top of. Sticktight fleas are a specific type that is known for infesting chickens above all other animals, which makes them especially problematic if you have both chicken and another animal living in the same household. If your chickens have fleas, you’ll want to be extra vigilant in treating them so that the fleas don’t have a chance to migrate and start infesting your other animals as well.