Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
•
Fluff lice:
This is one of the least invasive forms of lice. It is predominantly common in
the South. They live on the fluff and cause little irritation because they are not very act-
ive.
Again, the best prevention is honing good sanitation practices and keeping chicken bedding
clean and dry. Check your birds at least once a month for mite or lice infection. Disinfectant
spray is the best defense for controlling these external parasites. Make sure any chemicals you
use on your flock or within their environment are safe for you and your birds.
You can find a plethora of products to help prevent or conquer mites and lice at your local pet
store, co-op, or online. Poultry Protector is one product that you might choose. It is organic
and can be used on your birds and in their coop. The average cost for a bottle is between $6
and $12.95. The product can be found on these websites:
• Smith Poultry & Game Bird Supply (
www.poultrysupplies.com
)
— This site offers a
variety of products for caring for your flock. It includes products for your birds as well
as their surroundings.
• American Livestock and Pet Supply, Inc. (
www.americanlivestock.com
) — This website
offers products for chickens and other farm animals.
• IPS-CareFree Enzymes, Inc. (
www.carefreeenzymes.com
)
— This site offers a variety of
organic and chemical-free products for chickens and other farm animals.
Another product that kills mites and lice is Orange Guard, which is a water-based pest control
product found at Orange Guard (
www.orangeguard.com
)
and on Amazon
(
www.amazon.com
).
You can choose from a variety of shelf products when purchasing insecticides. Shop around
and see which work best to fit your needs and your lifestyle. Be sure to keep you, your family,
and your birds safe and healthy so you can enjoy a long and satisfying relationship.
Stress
One last key element regarding your birds' welfare is stress. Chickens are deeply affected by
stress. Causes of anxiety can include loud noises, bad weather, predators, overcrowding in a
coop, excessive bright light, not enough bright light, the lack of a regular routine, and living
with other aggressive birds. Some stressors, such as loud noises, are common and affect most
birds, but for the most part, anything can trigger a stressed reaction in a chicken. Why is stress
