At least once in their housekeeping practice, farmers had to observe a picture of the strange behavior of poultry. Chickens begin to constantly itch and pluck feathers on themselves. Such restless behavior may indicate the defeat of the birds by the peroed, a tiny parasite that settles on the back and wings of its owner, feeds on skin flakes and down, particles of feathers. The blood-eater does not feed on blood.
The number of insects on one bird can reach 10 thousand individuals. The chicken eater, the symptoms and treatment of which will be discussed in this article, is a dangerous adversary, the fight against which should be conducted in a comprehensive manner.
Insect description
The perogee belongs to the genus of ticks, is characterized by a narrow oblong light brown body 3 mm long and looks like a louse. On the head of a triangular shape protruding above the body, a gnawing apparatus is clearly expressed. It is difficult to detect it, since the insect merges with the skin color of the chicken. The pest is characterized by agility, it moves very quickly through the body of the owner, clinging paws to the feather cover. To conduct life, the parasite selects young animals, to a lesser extent affects mature chickens. In any case, even one bird struck by a cannibal can pose a danger to the whole herd (pictured). Treatment of chickens should be timely to prevent the death of the entire bird.
Causes of the disease
Defeat by a cannibal does not mean at all that chickens are kept in unsanitary conditions. Although it is an ideal habitat for a small pest. The cause of infection can be wild birds (pigeons, tits, sparrows) with free access to the chicken coop. Also, the beetle is more often wound up in chickens, which most of the time are indoors.
It is possible to determine mallophagosis in chickens (this is what is called the defeat of the cannibal) by the behavior of domesticated birds: they begin to peck themselves and pull out feathers, trying to calm the itching caused by small parasites. In the process of such a futile struggle, the chicken inflicts abrasions on itself, blood is released from them, which is the optimal environment for the life of “chicken lice” (this is what pereoedov in hens are called in everyday life). Bird treatment is required when there is the slightest suspicion of signs of malophagosis.
Life cycle of peroids
The life cycle of an insect passes on the body of its owner. There he multiplies, laying eggs on feathers near the skin itself. The appearance of new offspring occurs in 4-7 days, and one pair within 4 weeks is able to give life to 120 thousand individuals. Directly the period of development of the parasite from an egg to an adult takes 3-4 weeks. It should be noted that the beetle can perfectly adapt to environmental conditions and can safely exist in bird litter, feeders, and inventory. But if the bird dies, it will also cease to exist, because it is used to a certain temperature regime and cannot live in another environment.
Signs of bird damage
The peak of the disease is observed in spring and autumn. How to identify malophagosis in chickens? At the initial stage, when all the plumage is still whole, the onset of the disease can be determined by the restless behavior of the bird. Further, the poultry breeder will observe:
- poor appetite in birds;
- the hen constantly pinches its back with its beak, wings, under the wings, pulls out feathers;
- baldness in some areas;
- slow growth of young animals;
- lower egg production;
- conjunctivitis.
In most cases, a bird affected by a poohooter is doomed to death. Plucked by itself, without feathers, with poor appetite, exhausted by the useless struggle with an invisible enemy, in winter it simply freezes from hypothermia (unless, of course, it survives the onset of cold weather).
Or maybe not a eater?
It should be understood that chicken baldness can be triggered by other factors, namely:
- lack of vitamins (B12, sulfur, iodine, manganese);
- excess fat and protein in the diet;
- regular molt.
Therefore, it is recommended that the bird be inspected for the presence of parasites on its body. This can be done using a lamp or by placing it in direct sunlight. Insects, having felt the heat, creep up and become clearly visible.
If you consider the feather of an affected bird, then holes are clearly visible on it, which the beetle eats away in the process of moving through the body of the host.
Processing at home
How to rid a poultry of such harmful parasites that suck life? Of course, it is important to identify the disease at the initial stage in order to manage to take effective measures. First of all, this is disinfection. The treatment of hen-eaters in chickens, the processing of premises, street corrals, equipment should be carried out with special care, not giving the parasites a chance to survive. Modern poultry farmers for this purpose use:
- 0.25% aqueous cyodrin emulsion;
- 2% aqueous suspension of entobacterin or oxalate (20-25 ml per head);
- 5-7% aqueous suspension of thuringin;
- “Butox” in ampoules - per 1 liter of water - 1 ml;
- "Neostomazan" - 400 ml - 1 ml;
- 0.3-0.5% aqueous solution of chlorophos;
- “Karbofos” is a broad-spectrum insecticidal drug.
Previously used "Dichlorvos", but the use of this tool simultaneously led to the death of layers. The procedure can be performed using a garden sprayer, preferably in the dark. The plumage should be moistened profusely. Of the powders, “Sevin” (for 1 goal. 15 gr.), “Pyrethrum”, “Neopitroid”, “Deltamethrin” or “Paravet” powder are effective.
Sand ash baths
Sand-ash baths are effective in the fight against poo-eaters - an old method, proven over the years. Layers bathe in them with pleasure. Sand is required to sift and combine with wood ash in the same proportion. For greater effect, chlorophos or polychlorpinene can be added to the mixture at the rate of 2% by volume of ash.
The composition creates a layer between the skin and feathers. For parasites, such an environment is unacceptable, and they die. After such baths, the symptoms of the disease disappear instantly.
Preparations for the treatment of chickens in chickens
Of course, these methods are ineffective in the midst of the disease, so they should be used in combination with pharmacy drugs against fleas and ticks. This spray is “Bars”, “Insectol”, “Neotomazan”, “Stronghold”, drops “Frontline”. All birds (both sick and healthy) should be treated to avoid cross-infection. The spray should be sprayed from a distance no closer than 15 centimeters, the drops applied to the feathers themselves and their bases. Insects and their larvae will die within a few minutes. Unfortunately, this does not apply to parasite eggs, therefore, after a week (the period of transformation of an egg into a larva), treatment with the drug will need to be repeated. During this procedure, the chicken should tie a beak, otherwise it can poison itself with an insecticide during pecking.
Chemical treatment is recommended for adults; more gentle methods should be used for chickens. It is recommended to rub the infusion of chamomile into the feathers and skin of young animals. The procedure is carried out daily until the bird is completely cured.
Kerosene to the rescue
In the treatment of chickens from carnivores and poohoots, folk methods have proven themselves well. In particular, kerosene can be used to rid a domestic animal of a parasite. For this, a flammable liquid is diluted with water.
The resulting composition is rubbed into the feathers and skin of poultry and left for some time. The oil mixture penetrates through the respiratory tract of the insect, its chitinous cover, prevents the access of oxygen, due to which the nibbler perishes. Treatment of chickens with a kerosene should be done every day, until the parasites are completely eliminated.
Kerosene can be used in combination with vinegar and water, or in combination with ammonia and benzene, mixed in equal proportions. Even the smell of the mixture will be unbearable for the beetle.
Iodine
When hit by ticks, chickens can peck not only themselves, but also each other. In order to prevent this phenomenon, you can use iodine. Treatment of the hen-eater in chickens will consist in lubricating the affected areas with this drug. Pre-sick birds should be put in a separate room.
An excellent means for disinfecting a chicken coop is iodine monochloride. 10-15 ml of funds per 1 cubic meter m is connected to aluminum wire in a ratio of 20 parts of iodine to 1 part of the wire. As a result of a chemical reaction, smoke forms, which quickly spreads in space. This procedure should be carried out in an empty house with closed windows and doors once every 2 weeks, until the danger of disease is passed. 10 minutes after treatment, the room should be ventilated.
Herbs vs Carnivores
Effective action is characterized by dried tansy, ledum, chamomile. They need to be scattered across the litter. The persistent specific smell of grass scares away chickens from eating. Treatment with folk remedies in this way shows a good result.
Preventive actions
In order to prevent damage to poultry by the eating of eats, preventive measures should be taken regularly.
- Keep the chicken coop clean, timely change the litter. It is recommended to burn the old.
- Avoid contact with wild birds.
- Check that no dirt or impurities enter the feed.
- Once a month, inspect the bird for parasites.
- Periodically treat the chicken coop with boiling water or steam.
- In the warm season, treat the chicken coop with an emulsion of "Creolin" or any other insecticide.
It is likely that more than once treatment of the cannibal in chickens will be required. The enemy, although small, is very dangerous. Tries to hide in all secluded places. Therefore, the treatment of poultry and the premises in which it is kept should be carried out several.