Can Chickens Contract Parasites?

Chickens are susceptible to internal and external parasites, so regular parasite control and prevention are basic to flock husbandry. If your chickens appear unthrifty or reduce egg production, suspect parasites. You can see external parasites on your birds, and you'll find internal parasites in your chickens' feces.

  1. External Parasites

    • Lice and mites are your primary concerns regarding external chicken parasites. Straw-colored, fast-moving wingless lice are species specific, so they won't attach to you. Several types of lice infest chickens, some living in the feathers while others dwell on the body. Lice-infested chickens can appear moth-eaten. Mite infestations look like pepper sprinkled on your bird. Feathers of light-colored birds with large number of mites darken from mite fecal material. Lice and mites usually spread from contact with affected birds.

    Prevention and Treatment

    • Before bringing any new birds into your flock, quarantine them for at least two weeks and inspect them carefully for any signs of external parasites. If you find lice or mites on your chickens, use a dusting pesticide suitable for fowl. The Ohio State University Extension website recommends putting on a face mask to protect yourself from the dust, then placing the bird into a garbage bag containing the dusting powder. Let the bird's head stick out of the bag, but shake the bag gently but firmly to cover the chicken with powder. Since lice and mites have two-week life cycles, you'll need to repeat the process in two weeks to ensure you eradicate all the parasites and eggs. If you don't like using pesticides, you can try using feed-grade diatomaceous earth on your birds. Besides dusting your chickens with it, sprinkle it around the coop and nesting areas.

    Internal Parasites

    • Internal chicken parasites consist primarily of worms. The most common are large roundworms, or ascarids, inhabiting the intestinal tract. Small roundworms and tapeworms also live in the digestive system, while cecal worms are found at the end of the intestines. Cecal worms don't seriously compromise chicken health. Chickens afflicted with roundworms experience diarrhea and weight loss, with death a possibility in severely infested birds.

    Worming

    • Putting your flock on a regular worming schedule helps combat worm infestations. The only U.S. Food and Drug Administration wormer approved for use with poultry is liquid piperazine, sold commercially under the brand name Wazine. It kills only adult roundworms. To administer, you put the amount of wormer suitable for your number of birds in their waterer. Ask your vet about how often you should use the product, since you are restricted from consuming eggs produced after worming for specific time periods. Other over-the-counter wormers have FDA approval for use in household pets and livestock are used off-label for chickens. Ask your vet whether he recommends one of these broad-spectrum wormers.

    Prevention

    • In addition to worming, practice basic parasite prevention. Don't overcrowd your birds in the coop. Clean the coop regularly so droppings don't accumulate. Give your birds a high-quality chicken feed. Set up netting or wire so wild birds can't enter your coop, bringing parasites with them.