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Controlling external parasites of poultry
The Country Smallholder
|June 2025
Victoria Roberts BVSc MRCVS says what to look for and how to control them So where do they come from? Wild birds mainly which is why its so important to keep feeders and drinkers away from wild birds.
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LICE
The chicken louse (Menopon gallinae) is flat, yellow, fast moving, about 2mm long, usually seen around vent or under wings. they move quickly out of the light as feathers are parted. They feed on skin and feather debris. Louse eggs (nits) look like granulated sugar clumps attached to base of feathers and need to be removed with a sharp tug to the feather, dispose of the nits efficiently. They are not life threatening but infestation will depress the bird with infestations worse in autumn/winter. To treat, dust with a pyrethrum-based louse powder or diatomaceous earth (DM) Biolink is the most effective DM as it is not diluted.
MITESRed mite
This story is from the June 2025 edition of The Country Smallholder.
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