One of the problems encountered on chicken farms and other animal farms/ranches/kennels is arthropod pests and the damage they cause. A number of arthropod pests attack poultry directly, living on the birds, sucking blood or feeding on the skin and feathers. Others are found in association with poultry and cause damage to poultry housing or, are a nuisance to people.

The most important parasitic arthropods on poultry are mites and lice. They can lower production of both meat and eggs. Both can be difficult and expensive to control. Other minor pest species, such as bedbugs, can cause significant problems on individual farms at times.

Control of arthropod pests on poultry farms must be done as a routine part of farm management. An integrated program of monitoring, sanitation and timely use of Kleen Free will prevent costly pest outbreaks.

Use Kleen Free to Control the Population of these Pests

Directions for Use:

Use 6-8 ounces of Kleen Free with 1 Gallon of water (1 Gallon of Kleen Free makes 16 to 21 Gallons of diluted solution based on your dilution ratio)

Spray mixture on birds, in cages, on floors, in every crack and crevice of the building and around the outside and underneath the building

Make sure the bottom of the bird is sprayed. Make sure enough force is used to get beneath the feathers and onto the skin of the birds.

Repeat as necessary.

Kleen Free contains no pesticides and does not claim to be a pesticide!

How does Kleen Free work?

Insects are made up of a high concentration of protein.  When  Kleen Free Enzymes are introduced to the insect, the enzymes act and cause the insect to molt (shed its outer coating) prematurely.  Poison pesticides attack the nervous system of the insect, which is not always effective.

University research has noted that some insects

have developed a resistance to poison based products.

The following is an excerpt from a report by the University of West Virginia’s Cooperative Extension Service about Poultry Pests:

Chicken Mite

During the daytime these mites stay in cracks, crevices, and

other protected places. At night they crawl upon the birds to feed. Their only food is the blood of the birds they infest.

Since these mites rarely stay on the birds during the daytime, a flock may be badly run down without the owner being aware of the cause of the trouble. In cases of heavy infestations, the birds become droopy, pale about the head, and listless. They may stop laying.

Northern Fowl (Feather) Mite.

This mite resembles the chicken mite, but it breeds among the feathers and spends its entire life on the bird. The presence of the mites is often first noticed on the eggs. Mite eggs and

excrement will be found among the feathers, especially about the tail.

These mites cause annoyance, loss of blood, and unthriftiness in infested birds. English sparrows are also usually infested with these mites. Destroying their nests around poultry houses is suggested.

This mite lives at the base of the feathers. It appears

to produce an intense itching, causing the birds to pull out their feathers. If the stumps of the feathers are examined soon after the quill is broken, they will be found to be surrounded by scales and crusts. These mites become active in the spring and usually disappear in winter.

Scaly Leg Mite.

This form of itch mite causes a condition known as scaly

leg. While it usually occurs only on the legs, the mite may attack the combs and wattles. The infestation is easy to recognize by the enlargement of the feet and legs and their rough appearance. In severe cases, the joints become inflamed and the birds become lame.

POULTRY LICE

Lice on poultry do not suck blood but feed by nibbling or chewing dry skin, scales, feathers, or scabs on the skin. Several kinds of lice attack birds in West Virginia. Some of the most important are the chicken body louse, the shaft louse, and the chicken head louse.

Chicken Body Louse.

This louse lives most of the time on the skin, mainly

in the areas around the vent and under the wings. It is common on both young and old birds.

Shaft Louse.

The shaft louse, or common body louse, is similar to the

chicken body louse but smaller and paler colored. It is common around the vent as well as on the back and breast. It tends to cling to the feathers rather than to the skin of the bird. This louse does not infest young chickens.

Chicken Head Louse.

This louse is a problem mostly on young birds. It occurs on the head at the base of the feathers or down. It passes from one

chicken to another by contact.

FLEAS

Several kinds of fleas may occasionally infest birds.