Ticks on broilers, how to treat them? - briefly
Apply a licensed acaricide (e.g., permethrin or ivermectin) according to label dosage, ensuring thorough coverage of birds and their housing, then repeat treatment after the tick life cycle interval. Follow with strict sanitation, regular litter replacement, and environmental control to prevent reinfestation.
Ticks on broilers, how to treat them? - in detail
Ticks infesting broiler chickens cause blood loss, skin irritation, and can transmit pathogens such as Rickettsia and Babesia. Effective control requires an integrated approach that combines immediate parasite removal, environmental management, and preventive measures.
The first step is rapid elimination of existing parasites. Acaricidal applications approved for poultry should be administered according to label instructions. Commonly used products include:
- Organophosphate sprays (e.g., diazinon) applied to the flock at the recommended dosage, with a repeat treatment after the life cycle completes.
- Synthetic pyrethroids (e.g., permethrin) delivered as a fine mist or dust, ensuring thorough coverage of the birds’ ventral surface and leg feathers.
- Ivermectin administered via drinking water or feed, at a dose of 0.2 mg kg⁻¹ body weight, repeated after seven days to target newly hatched larvae.
After chemical treatment, physical removal of engorged ticks should be performed. Manual picking with tweezers reduces the immediate parasite load and limits secondary infections. Disinfectant footbaths and regular cleaning of housing reduce re‑infestation risk.
Environmental control focuses on breaking the tick life cycle:
- Litter management – Replace or treat bedding with a hot‑air dryer or steam to kill eggs and nymphs.
- Perimeter treatment – Apply acaricide to walls, perches, and surrounding vegetation where ticks hide.
- Rodent control – Implement traps and bait stations to eliminate rodent hosts that sustain tick populations.
Preventive strategies maintain low infestation levels:
- Vaccination – Use commercial vaccines against Rickettsia spp. when available to reduce disease impact.
- Prophylactic acaricide rotation – Alternate chemical classes every 4–6 weeks to prevent resistance development.
- Biosecurity – Restrict entry of equipment and personnel from infested sites, and quarantine new birds for at least two weeks with a pre‑emptive acaricide regimen.
Monitoring should be continuous. Conduct weekly inspections of a random sample of birds (minimum 5 % of the flock) and count ticks on the vent area and legs. Record numbers and adjust treatment frequency based on threshold levels (e.g., >2 ticks per bird warrants immediate intervention).
In summary, successful management of tick infestations in broiler operations relies on rapid chemical control, diligent removal of parasites, rigorous sanitation of the environment, and ongoing preventive measures that include rotation of acaricides, biosecurity enforcement, and regular surveillance.