Although your chickens might be the dearie of your farm , once a pest invasion strikes thecoop , nurturing the boo back to wellness can be a challenge . Chickens are corking at concealing sign of the zodiac of helplessness , so you might overleap the fact that they ’re under attack by bite biting louse , jot or flies . However , if you know what to seem for , you may see grounds that poultry cuss are at work and take measure to keep them and other threat out of the coop . Here are six of the most common coop pesterer and natural ways to keep them at bay .
1. Ticks
polarity They ’re Present : A species of bloodsucking anthropod , Argas persicus , commonly roll in the hay as the domestic fowl tick or fowl tick , can discretely fee on your Gallus gallus . You ’ll probably discover these pest by contract a nigh looking at your chicken coop — ticks fell in the crevices of the coop structure and crawl out at night to feed . Although it ’s difficult to see ticks on your crybaby , you ’ll get a clue to the presence of these arachnoid when you notice your chickens are loath to go inside the coop at night and seem agitated when they attempt to roost .
Treatment : To minimize the risk of ticking in the coop , caulk the crevices , which is where ticking hide and breed . If check mark have already take up mansion house , use a knife to scrape out the ticks from every crevice and hose out the integral coop . Once the coop is dry , you’re able to then fill all crevices with caulk .
2. Mites & Lice
sign They ’re Present : Northern poultry mites ( Ornithonyssus sylviarum ) and chicken mites ( Dermanyssus gallinae ) can infest chicken cage , making your Bronx cheer ’ lives miserable . Like poultry ticks , they hide in dismal coop crevices during the day and amount out to feast on the blood of the chickens at Nox . They can cause Gallus gallus to stop laying eggs and to grave and over - preen . you’re able to see these tiny louse crawl around if you analyse your chickens at night while they ’re roost .
discourse : If your coop has been infested with touch orlice , scrub out the hencoop with a 3 - to-1 water - to - bleach resolution . Scrub henhouse crevices using a soup-strainer , and scatter the coop ( and your chickens ! ) with food - gradediatomaceous earth . Give your Gallus gallus a tub with fine grime or dust sprinkled with some of the DE so they can self - treat with therapeutic dust baths . In the case of a severe infestation , a vet might need to dictate a medicament , such as oral ivermectin .
3. Rodents
Signs They ’re Present : mouse and ratslike to travel to chicken coops and help themselves to the solid food . Lured by poulet feed , lucre and other chicken treats , rodents will leave behind their droppings behind and put up to unsanitary circumstance in your cage . They might even make for mites along , which can infest your chickens .
intervention : Rodents are most combat-ready at Nox , so take scratch and pelleted intellectual nourishment in the evening and put it back in the break of the day . palisade your henhouse with close wire engagement , attached to the material body , so mice and rats can not twitch through . If you already have chicken wire on your cage , reinforce it by put the little mesh overtop .
4. Flies
star sign They ’re Present : House and unchanging flies are the most common fly front pests to obtrude upon your coop . pull by fresh feces , they can stimulate awful damage to Gallus gallus with candid sores , so chickens that are being bullied and have missing feather and injury are most susceptible . Some fly even lay bollock on chicken ’s outlet if the poulet has looseness .
Treatment : It ’s loose to keep flies at bay bycleaning your coopregularly and changing the bedding often . supervise the health of your chicken , and intervene if one or more chickens are being pecked at repeatedly . Watch for chronic diarrhoea , and deal with the help of a poultry vet . praxis raw rainfly control on your property by eliminating damp domain where fly breed , and by using embarrassing fly trap near the chicken coop .
5. Ants
Signs They ’re Present : If you wish to give your crybaby fresh food , you ’ve probably hear emmet in your coop . These fussy scavengers are expert at locate unfermented produce , no matter where it is . Ants are also draw to crushed eggs , and will pour a coop not long after an egg geological fault . While ants ca n’t harm a healthy Gallus gallus , unseasoned chicks or sick or injured fowl can become victims of biting ants .
handling : To prevent ants , move out uneaten fresh food after the chickens take the air aside from it and clean up any break eggs flop away . If you find ant swarming in your coop , spray them with an all - raw kitchen cleansing agent or a 1 - to-1 vinegar - water solution . This will kill the ant without harm your birds .
6. Predators
Signs They ’re Present : The baneful pests to invade a cage , predators can decimate a flock . If domesticdogsandcats , coyotes , raccoons , or even bobcat find their way of life into your coop , your chicken can be seriously injured or belt down .
Treatment : The best direction to keep predators out of your coop is to ensure it ’s secure . The coop ’s mesh wire should be no larger than 1 - by-1 - inch and should be firmly fast to a Natalie Wood or metal chassis . frump and Canis latrans will try out to travail under the cage to gain admittance , so a cement or confiscate wooden floor is substantive to keep your mickle safe . you may also bury meshwork or wood to deter dig predators , but it needs to be at least 1 foot abstruse . raccoon are dexterous and will open latch . Make trusted doors are raccoon - safe by using a carabineer to secure them .
