Bed bugs, or Cimex lectularius, are becoming more common in poultry facilities. Whether it’s a large commercial chicken house or the kind many people have in their backyards, it’s important to know what to look for and how to address the problem.
Species Bed Bugs Infest
Most commonly, bed bugs infest humans. However, they have begun to target chickens, other birds, and mammals. These bugs travel on personal belongings such as clothes, boxes, and shoes. Bed bugs attach onto their host (the animal) and suck blood.
Signs your Coop has Bed Bugs
Bed bugs are brown bugs about 4 – 6 millimeters long, about the length of a grain of rice. They have been found across the United States. Bed bugs can lead to poultry becoming stressed, losing feathers, experiencing skin irritation, and cloacal irritation. Sometimes anemia occurs (when the body lacks enough red blood cells to carry oxygen).
Some signs to look for in the coop are groups of eggs, molted skins, and dead bugs. Most of the time, these areas are darkened due to feces. It is important to look for these signs often to ensure the health of your birds.
Where to Look
- Perch and nest sites
- Nest boxes
- Under nest pads
- Slat panels
- Door frames
- Along walls
Treatments
Regularly cleaning your chicken house and supplies can help you find possible infestations and can remove the bugs. Applying heat to infested areas will kill the bugs. It must be up to a temperature of 130 degrees Fahrenheit. This can be difficult to reach and can cause some damage to the house. If you use this method, be sure to approach it with caution. Most insecticides also kill bed bugs.
Prevention Methods
To help prevent bed bugs, seal all cracks in your coop and remove unneeded items. This will keep the bugs out and limit the places that they can hide. Practicing biosecurity will also help prevent bed bugs. Do not enter your chicken house after being in contact with bed bugs, and make sure your clothes are clean. When introducing new poultry, check for signs of bed bugs and isolate new arrivals for a period of time. Ask your veterinarian for advice on how long you would isolate new arrivals. This will not only help with the prevention of parasites but can also help with the prevention of other diseases.