Bedbugs Like Chickens, Too

Bedbugs Like Chickens Too AG WORLD People aren’t the only ones harassed by bed bugs So are chickens The first bedbug infestation found in a Saskatoon Canada layer facility was recently reported when workers cleaned a barn The bugs were discovered when workers moved metal racks after the chickens had been removed from the barn Bed bugs latched on the workers who reported it and walked off the job While it’s a new problem in Canada U S poultry producers have been fighting bed bugs for a while Just one bedbug coming in a barn on someone’s clothing or with feed or equipment can create havoc Due to the large numbers of eggs a female can produce bed bug populations can explode quickly They need blood every 3 to 7 days to survive and will feed for 5 to 10 minutes usually at night While they don’t transmit disease heavy infestation can lead to feather loss cloacal irritation lesions and anemia which can affect egg production and fertility Because of limits on insecticides DDT was once used that can be used when birds are present it has become more difficult to eradicate the bed bugs Stronger and more effective pesticides can be used when the buildings are empty and nooks and crannies can be completely disinfected Heat 130 degrees for a few hours also kills bed bugs and their eggs However total eradication is difficult and one or two missed bed bugs can start the whole problem again so vigilance is necessary Until about 20 years ago bed bugs were thought to have been pretty much eradicated in developed countries There have been many reports of the blood-sucking insects in hotels dorms and homes With a growing number of reports of bedbugs in poultry barns it appears they like chicken as much as they like human blood

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