Chicken bedbugs in a poultry house: how to get rid of them? - briefly
Effective control requires thorough cleaning, sealing of cracks and crevices, and application of a residual insecticide approved for poultry environments. Repeat the treatment after 7–10 days to interrupt the bedbug life cycle.
Chicken bedbugs in a poultry house: how to get rid of them? - in detail
Bed bug infestations in a poultry facility threaten bird health, egg production, and worker comfort. Effective control requires a systematic approach that combines inspection, sanitation, chemical treatment, and preventive measures.
Inspection should begin with a thorough examination of all structures. Focus on cracks, crevices, perches, nesting boxes, and ventilation ducts. Use a hand‑held flashlight and a fine‑toothed comb to detect live insects, shed skins, or dark fecal spots. Record the locations and severity of each finding to prioritize treatment zones.
Sanitation reduces hiding places and food sources. Remove accumulated litter, spilled feed, and manure. Wash all removable equipment with hot water (≥ 60 °C) and dry completely. Seal gaps larger than 3 mm with caulk or metal flashing. Install smooth, non‑porous flooring where possible to limit beetle harborage.
Chemical control must follow local regulations and label instructions. Recommended products include:
- Pyrethroid‑based aerosols for immediate knock‑down in exposed areas.
- Residual insecticides (e.g., carbaryl, bifenthrin) applied to cracks and baseboards.
- Insect growth regulators (IGRs) that interrupt molting cycles, reducing population growth.
Apply chemicals using a calibrated sprayer, ensuring even coverage of all identified sites. Repeat applications at 7‑ to 10‑day intervals to target newly hatched nymphs. Wear appropriate personal protective equipment and ventilate the house during and after treatment.
Physical methods complement chemicals:
- Heat treatment: Raise ambient temperature to 45–50 °C for at least four hours; insects cannot survive prolonged exposure.
- Cold treatment: Expose equipment to –20 °C for 48 hours; lethal to all life stages.
- Vacuuming: Use a HEPA‑filtered backpack vacuum to remove insects from cracks and crevices; immediately dispose of collected material in sealed bags.
Monitoring continues after interventions. Place sticky traps and pheromone‑baited monitors in high‑risk zones. Review trap counts weekly; any resurgence triggers a repeat of the sanitation‑chemical cycle.
Prevention relies on maintaining a barrier against re‑infestation. Implement routine cleaning schedules, inspect incoming birds and feed, and restrict access by wild insects through screened ventilation. Train staff to recognize early signs and to report them promptly.
By integrating inspection, rigorous sanitation, targeted chemicals, and physical eradication techniques, a poultry operation can eliminate bed bug populations and sustain a healthy production environment.