Lucas Delgado
Parasites are prevalent in chickens, but with proper care, they are usually nothing to worry about. The most common parasites found on chickens include lice, mites, and worms. Lice are the easiest to spot and treat, as they are larger than mites and visible to the naked eye. They are straw-coloured and move quickly around the skin and base of the feathers. Mites are tiny and survive in the coop, litter, and nest boxes, so you will need to treat the chicken and its environment. Worms are harder to spot, but you can look for lethargy, weight loss, and a decrease in egg production. If you suspect your chicken has worms, you can take a faecal sample to a veterinarian for testing.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Chicken stops eating | |
| Lethargic | |
| Loss of weight | |
| Diarrhea | |
| Dehydration | |
| Pale egg yolks | |
| Poor egg production | |
| Gaping beak | |
| Neck-stretching | |
| Head-shaking | |
| Hunched posture | |
| Sagging wings | |
| Lumpy, crusty appearance on feet and lower legs | Scaly leg mites |
| Straw-coloured lice | Found around the skin and base of feathers |
| White clumps around the feather base | Nits (lice eggs) |
| Yellow, flat lice | Menacanthus stramineus |
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What You'll Learn
- Common chicken parasites include lice, mites, and worms
- Symptoms of a parasite-infested chicken include lethargy, weight loss, diarrhoea, and reduced egg production
- Fecal float tests can be used to diagnose roundworms, coccidiosis oocysts, and tapeworms
- Natural dewormers include garlic, brassicas, and cucurbits
- To prevent parasites, keep the chicken coop clean and avoid overcrowding
Common chicken parasites include lice, mites, and worms
Parasites in chickens can cause stress, illness, and underperformance in the birds. They are divided into two categories: internal and external parasites.
Internal Parasites
Internal parasites such as worms and coccidia are usually spread through excrement in the feed and water supply. They can drain chickens of necessary vitamins and minerals, leading to a variety of deficiencies and digestive problems.
Worms are the most common internal parasite that causes health problems in chickens. Chickens get worms from consuming worm eggs, which can be found in the soil and in the faeces of infected birds. Some types of worms live part of their life inside an insect, such as a slug or earthworm, and infect chickens when they consume the insect.
The symptoms of a worm infestation include lethargy, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Infected birds may also eat more than usual, as they are feeding the worms inside them.
To diagnose a worm infestation, a fecal exam can be performed to look for worm eggs. Fecal float tests are effective for diagnosing roundworms, but tapeworms must be diagnosed through a different fecal exam since tapeworm eggs sink instead of float.
External Parasites
External parasites include mites, lice, and fleas. Mites feed on the chicken's blood, whereas lice feed on skin follicles.
Lice are an ectoparasite that lives and breeds on hens, causing irritation and inflammation, resulting in significant discomfort. They are relatively easy to spot, measuring between 1mm and 6mm in size, and can be found moving quickly in and around the feather shafts. Lice eggs will be found in whitish clusters at the base of a feather.
Mites are tiny parasites that cause a lot of discomfort to chickens as they eat the tissue under their skin. Scaly leg mites, for example, can cause a lumpy, crusty appearance on the feet and lower legs.
To prevent external parasites, it is important to encourage chickens to have dust baths and keep a clean chicken coop and hen house.
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Symptoms of a parasite-infested chicken include lethargy, weight loss, diarrhoea, and reduced egg production
Parasites are prevalent in chickens, especially those that are free-range or kept in backyards. The most common parasites found in chickens are lice, mites, and worms.
Lethargy is a common symptom of a chicken infested with worms. The chicken will become lethargic and will eventually stop eating, which can lead to weight loss. In addition, chickens with internal parasites may experience a compromised immune system, making them more susceptible to other diseases and infections.
Weight loss can be a symptom of a chicken infested with hair worms, which are found in the crop, oesophagus, proventriculus, and intestine. Infected birds will continue to eat but will lose weight, and their egg production will be affected.
Diarrhoea is another symptom of parasite infestation in chickens. Internal parasites, such as worms, can cause diarrhoea, which can lead to dehydration if left untreated.
Reduced egg production can be a result of parasite infestation, as the worms can take over the chicken's digestive and egg-laying systems. Pale egg yolks can also be a sign of parasite infestation.
To identify parasitic problems, it is recommended to routinely check the feathers, especially around the vent area. Checking the droppings for worms, worm eggs, or worm segments is also an effective way to diagnose a parasite infestation. Fecal exams and float tests can be performed by veterinarians to diagnose and treat parasite infestations.
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Fecal float tests can be used to diagnose roundworms, coccidiosis oocysts, and tapeworms
Fecal float tests are an important parasitological examination tool used in the poultry industry to diagnose roundworms, coccidiosis oocysts, and tapeworms. While the test is effective for diagnosing roundworms and coccidiosis oocysts, tapeworms must be diagnosed through a different fecal exam, as tapeworm eggs sink instead of floating.
Fecal exams are a method of looking for worm eggs if no parasites are expelled naturally in the chicken's poop or found in a hen's eggs. The samples should not be older than 30 minutes, and if they need to be stored, they should be kept in an airtight container in the fridge. Once a sample has been collected, a float test should be performed.
To examine your chickens for worms, eggs, and coccidia, you will need a microscope and some basic supplies. A simple microscope will allow you to see worms, worm eggs, and coccidia. Supplies needed include plain microscope slides, cover slips, cheesecloth or a strainer, test tubes, a stirring rod, and a syringe.
Consulting a veterinarian and getting a fecal exam done is the best way to diagnose internal parasites in your backyard flock. Once an internal parasite infestation has been diagnosed, you will need to consider ways of treating or controlling the parasites. Dewormers can be used to eliminate an internal parasite infestation in chickens. There are two types of dewormers: drug dewormers and natural dewormers.
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Natural dewormers include garlic, brassicas, and cucurbits
Parasites are very common in chickens and can be transmitted to other chickens through egg-infested droppings. Infected birds will eat a lot but lose weight, and their egg production will be affected. Other symptoms include lethargy, diarrhoea, anaemia, pale egg yolks, and a hunched posture with sagging wings.
Natural dewormers can be used to prevent and treat parasites in chickens. They can help make the chicken's body an inhospitable environment for parasites, so they do not survive even if they enter the body. Natural dewormers include garlic, brassicas, and cucurbits.
Brassicas, a family of vegetables that include cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, radishes, and turnips, contain a sulfur compound that acts as a natural worm preventative. Giving your chickens healthy snacks of these vegetables can help make their bodies inhospitable to parasites. However, they should not be offered too regularly as they can affect the thyroid gland if consumed in excess.
Cucurbits, a family of vegetables that includes cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins, can also be used as a natural dewormer. While there is limited information on how cucurbits work as a natural dewormer, they are likely to have similar properties to brassicas.
In addition to brassicas and cucurbits, garlic can also be used as a natural dewormer for chickens. It can be combined with other natural worm preventatives to make an effective natural worm treatment. These treatments can take the form of a homemade paste, a tonic, or a mixture of free-choice snacks and supplements.
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To prevent parasites, keep the chicken coop clean and avoid overcrowding
Chicken keepers, especially those in warmer climates, should be vigilant about parasite prevention and management. The most common parasites in chickens are roundworms, cecal worms, tapeworms, coccidia, cryptosporidium, and histomonads.
First, ensure the chicken coop is regularly cleaned. Remove all bedding and droppings, and treat crevices, cracks, and nesting boxes with a mite treatment spray. Re-treat the coop two weeks after the initial treatment and check for signs of mites before deciding on further treatments. Keep bedding dry and remove wet and soiled bedding promptly.
Next, prevent overcrowding in the chicken coop. Overcrowding can increase stress in your flock, making them more susceptible to parasites and illnesses. Reducing stress in your chickens is an effective way to reduce parasites. Ensure your flock has ample space and access to fresh air and clean surroundings.
Additionally, maintain a balanced diet for your chickens. Use feeders to provide a diet of grains, pellets, greens, hard grit, and shell grit suitable for chickens. Keep feeders and drinkers clean and raise the height of drinkers if they are frequently becoming dirty.
Finally, perform routine checks on your chickens for parasites. Regularly examine your chicken's feathers, especially around the vent area, for signs of lice, mites, or worms. Check the droppings for the presence of worms, worm eggs, or worm segments. If you suspect an infestation, consult a veterinarian for a fecal exam to diagnose and determine the appropriate treatment.
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Frequently asked questions
Symptoms of worms in chickens include lethargy, loss of appetite, diarrhoea, weight loss, and a decrease in egg production. You can also check your chicken's droppings for worms, worm eggs, or worm segments. If you suspect an infestation, you can take a faecal sample to a veterinarian for testing.
Lice and mites are other common parasites found on chickens. Lice are larger and straw-coloured, while mites are tiny and difficult to see. Both can be found on a chicken's skin and feathers, particularly around the vent area (under the tail).
To prevent parasites in your chickens, keep their coop, feeders, and waterers clean. Provide your chickens with a balanced diet of grains/pellets, greens, hard grit, and shell grit suitable for their nutrition. Avoid overcrowding and reduce stress in your flock to lower the risk of parasites and illness.
