How to Get Rid of Parasites on Live Chickens

4-H Bantam Chicken Milli Fleur

Getting rid of parasites on live chickens is essential to the health and well being of your flock of chickens. Your chickens will lay more eggs and live longer when you keep them healthy and parasite free. If you intend to show your chickens at county and state fairs or other poultry events grooming and parasite removal is imperative to earning ribbons and trophies.

Things You'll Need

• Sevin dust Shaker (empty Parmesan container) Petroleum jelly Rubber gloves Additional person

Instructions

1. Remove all bedding materials from your chicken coop where your chickens live and roost at night as the bedding may be infested with parasites. Make sure you dispose of the used bedding far from the coop so the chickens do not dig through it.

2. Sprinkle Sevin Dust on the bare floor of your chicken coop after you have scraped it clean with a shovel. Spread new bedding over the Sevin Dust thick enough that your chickens will not see the white dust and try to peck at it.

3. Hold the chicken while another person dusts the bird from head to tail with the Sevin Dust being careful not to get Sevin in the chicken's eyes or beak. Turn the live chicken upside down and sprinkle Sevin Dust under each wing. Ruffle the feathers with your fingers so the dust settles deep into them. Sprinkle the dust on the belly feathers and around the vent but not in the vent.

4. Rub petroleum jelly generously on the beak, legs, feet and comb of the chicken. This adds shine, makes the chicken look healthier and suffocates parasites.

5. 

   Wash your chickens thoroughly about two weeks after applying Sevin using shampoo and water if you intend to show your chickens. Be sure to rinse with water removing all shampoo and towel dry taking care not to break any feathers.

Tips & Warnings

• Bathe chickens in warm water and shampoo. Rinse the chicken thoroughly and towel it dry before applying Sevin if they are show birds. Use an old toothbrush to clean the legs, feet, comb and beak. Dust chickens with Sevin at least two weeks prior to showing so bite marks and dead parasites disappear. Use old chicken bedding for garden mulch and fertilizer.

• Do not get Sevin in the chicken's eyes, mouth, or drinking water. Wear rubber gloves during application of Sevin Dust.

Resources

• Handy-Dandy Chicken Chart
• Raise Champion Turkeys for 4-H or Pleasure
• Raise Champion Geese for 4-H or Pleasure
• Common Continuous External Parasites of Poultry