How To Treat Yard For Fleas With Chickens

How To Treat Yard For Fleas With Chickens

We live in southern Missouri and encounter a lot of fleas. We keep our chickens as pets (not just for eggs) and they can also get fleas. There are a few different methods that really work to treat yard for fleas with chickens; using vinegar, salt, Dawn dishwashing soap, or diatomaceous earth.

Treating your yard for fleas with chickens can lead to great results and cost reduction. Many gardeners consider chickens as pets; however, they can be a great way to get rid of pesky insects in the yard. Chickens will eat the larvae before it can grow into an adult flea later on.

Treating your yard for fleas is no easy task, especially if you want it done naturally. Fleas can become a real problem if they get out of hand, as they feed on their hosts — leaving them with irritating bites and the potential spread of more dangerous conditions, such as tapeworm.

How To Treat Yard For Fleas With Chickens

How To Treat Yard For Fleas With Chickens

Treating your yard for fleas with chickens is the best way to get rid of them. Chickens are natural predators and will eat any flies, worms, or other pests that might be living in your yard. They will also eat the eggs of fleas, making it impossible for them to reproduce.

This guide will show you how to prepare your yard for chickens so they can be effective as pest control agents.

Chickens are an excellent way to control yard fleas. Chickens will eat fleas and their larvae and eggs, which helps prevent the spread of these pests in your yard. They also eat grasshoppers and other insects that are harmful to your lawn and garden.

If you have chickens, they may be scratching and pecking at their feathers due to the presence of fleas on them. This is especially true if you have new chickens who are not yet immune to flea bites. One way to treat your chickens for fleas is by washing them with shampoo that contains pyrethrins or permethrin. You can also use pesticides approved for use on pets as long as they do not contain carbaryl (Sevin). However, it is important to remember that these pesticides should never be used directly on birds because they can cause serious health problems if ingested.

How To Treat Yard For Fleas With Chickens

Sticktight fleas should be carefully removed by hand using tweezers, to pull each off individually. In order to help prevent the birds from becoming reinfected, both the bird needs to be treated with an pyrethroid insecticide and the environment thoroughly cleaned (since the flea larvae are found in the coop or run environment). All bedding materials (litter, straw, shavings, etc.) should be completely removed and replaced with fresh, uncontaminated materials. The new shavings should be sprayed with an insect growth regulator.

Treatment of Fleas on Chickens Treatment of fleas is two parts. The first part is removal of the adult fleas from the chicken’s face, and basic wound care. The second part is removing the flea eggs and developing larvae that are present in the coop or run environment. All bedding and nestbox material should be removed and replaced. All housing components should be thoroughly cleaned and treated with insecticides.

There are many treatments and techniques on the market for chicken fleas.  You may find that you have to use a combination of a few to eradicate the fleas. Also be sure to check out the reference list below. You might also find some helpful information in those articles as well.

Step 1: Remove all the chicken from the coop and lock them out into the run.  They cannot return into the coop until they are treated themselves

Step 2: Clean out the entire coop, remove all the bedding and sweep out the cobwebs from the rafters. Discard the bedding. Do not add it to the compost pile. Do not toss it into the run. Some people burn it!

  • Scrub the coop clean with either a water and vinegar solution, a commercial coop cleaner, or a 10% water and bleach solution.
  • If you can remove the roosts, scrub them down outside and allow them to dry in the sun.
  • Wait until the coop is entirely dry. While you wait for things to dry, treat the flock.
It is very important that you educate yourself about any treatments and their drawbacks prior to using them on your flock. This is especially important if you are consuming their eggs or meat.  Know that from the time this article was written to when you are reading it, precautions, uses and indications of certain treatments can change. Also, just because commercial livestock corporation use these chemicals, you should not use them blindly. Please research current practices prior to using any of these techniques in your own flock. Always use the safest options with the least possible side-effects first.
 
Step 3: Dust the coop with the product of your choice. Some of these chemicals’ availability may vary from state to state. Follow all directions on the packaging and wear gloves. Natural techniques are italcised.
  • Food grade diatomaceous earth- natural technique, no egg or meat withdrawal period
  • Poultry Protector-can be applied directly to chickens, no egg or meat withdrawal period
  • Permethrin-   One study did show that after application on poultry, Permethrin was still detected in the eggs at 21 days and at 42 days for meat, so do use caution and enforce an egg and meat withdrawal periods for you own safety.
  • Carbaryl (Sevin Garden Dust)- Do not use 10% on poultry. Should not be used in nesting boxes. UPDATE: As of spring 2013 its use on animals has been revoked.
  • Coumaphos
  • Malathion-avoid waterers, feed troughs, do not apply to birds.
  • Rabon
  • Boric Acid- NOT recommended.
Step 4: Treat the flock. Apply the treatment of your choice directly to every bird in your flock. Pay close attention to under their wings and their fluffy bottoms.  Follow all directions and safety precautions on the packaging.  Wear gloves.
  • Food grade diatomaceous earth-natural, no egg or meat withdrawal period
  • Apple Cider Vinegar-Avoiding the head and eyes, you can try spraying your flock with apple cider vinegar.no egg or meat withdrawal period
  • Brewer’s Yeast- mixed information available, yet might be worth a try. no egg or meat withdrawal period
  • Tweezers-gently remove sticktight fleas. Apply an antibiotic ointment after removal.
  • Olive Oil-smother sticktight fleas on the wattles and combs by applying olive oil twice daily for two weeks.
  • Ravap- Egg or meat withdrawal period unavailable.
  • Rabon- See above. Egg or meat withdrawal period unavailable.
  • Carbaryl- see above. Egg or meat withdrawal period unavailable.
  • Permethrin-see above.

After treating your flock be sure to remove your shoes prior to entering the house. Wash your hands thoroughly, take a shower, and put on a clean set of clothes. Wash your clothing right away.

It is very important that you repeat the entire process of deep cleaning the coop and re-dusting the flock once again 10 to 14 days later. Sometimes the process needs to be done a third time in order to break the fleas’ life cycle.

List Of How To Treat Yard For Fleas With Chickens

ANGRY ORANGE Pet Odor Eliminator for Strong Odor - Citrus Deodorizer for Strong Dog Urine or Cat Pee Smells on Carpet, Furniture & Indoor Outdoor Floors - 24 Fluid Ounces - Puppy Supplies
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  • Powerful – A little goes a long way with the Angry Orange pet odor eliminator for home use. It’s a carpet deodorizer that targets strong, lingering smells at the source and destroys them.
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  • Multipurpose – This pet carpet cleaner can also be used to eliminate odors from tile, couch upholstery, garbage cans, car interiors, and more.

Additional Info :

Rocco & Roxie Stain & Odor Eliminator for Strong Odor - Enzyme-Powered Pet Odor Eliminator for Home - Carpet Stain Remover for Cats and Dog Pee - Enzymatic Cat Urine Destroyer - Carpet Cleaner Spray
Price : $19.97 ($0.62 / Fl Oz)
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Item Dimensions
Height 10 Inches
Width 2 Inches
Length 5 Inches
Weight 2 Pounds
Frontline Plus Flea and Tick Treatment for Dogs (Small Dog, 5-22 Pounds, 3 Doses)
Price : $38.99
Features :

  • Waterproof flea and tick treatment for dogs: Frontline Plus for Dogs provides waterproof, fast-acting, long-lasting flea and tick treatment and control for your dog. This product is approved for use on dogs 5-22 lbs.
  • Break the flea life cycle with frontline: Frontline flea and tick treatment for dogs kills adult fleas plus flea eggs and larvae to stop existing infestations and prevent establishment of new infestations.
  • Kills fleas and ticks: Frontline flea and tick treatment for dogs kills fleas, flea eggs, lice, and ticks. This flea and tick treatment kills ticks, including those that may transmit Lyme disease.
  • Trusted flea and tick protection for dogs: Frontline has been trusted by veterinarians for nearly 20 years. Made with 2 tough killing ingredients, fipronil and (S)-methoprene – one to kill adult fleas and ticks and the second to kill flea eggs and larvae – this fast-acting, long-lasting protection provides flea and tick control for dogs and puppies 8 weeks and older
  • Lasting flea and tick protection: Frontline’s long-lasting formula isstored in the oil glands of the pet’s skin to give non-stop flea and tick protection for a full 30 days. Frontline flea and tick treatment for dogs works non-stop for a full 30 days. A 3-dose supply lasts for 3 months.

Additional Info :

Color orange
Item Dimensions
Height 4.5 Inches
Width 0.75 Inches
Length 5.75 Inches
Weight 0.8 Pounds
Vet
Price :
Features :

  • SAFE AND EFFECTIVE – Vet’s Best Flea and Tick Yard and Kennel Spray kills mosquitoes, fleas, flea larvae, flea eggs, and ticks by contact without harsh chemicals.
  • EASY TO USE – Includes ready-to-use hose attachment for quick and easy application on turf, lawns, kennels, patios, and other outside surfaces. Not known to be harmful to trees, shrubs, or flowers.
  • CERTIFIED NATURAL OILS – Each steam-distilled essential oil is selected for its potent pest-fighting properties and is 100% Certified Natural and deet free.
  • USE FOR UP TO 5,000 SQUARE FEET – Each 32oz concentrate bottle treats up to 5,000 square feet and can be refilled with Vet’s Best Yard and Kennel Spray 96oz Refill.
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Additional Info :

Color Whites & Tans
Item Dimensions
Height 11.25 Inches
Width 4.75 Inches
Length 2 Inches
Weight 2.4 Pounds
Mighty Mint - 16oz Insect and Pest Control Peppermint Oil - Natural Spray for Spiders, Ants, and More - Non Toxic
Price : $18.98
Features :

  • Safe
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  • Large 16oz Bottle
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Additional Info :

Item Dimensions
Weight 1 Pounds

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