A Guide for Managing Poultry Insects

For many years poultry production in Nebraska has consisted primarily of large operations of layer hens. In recent years, however, broiler production has increased in southeast Nebraska. There are also some large turkey production units. Extreme competitiveness in the poultry industry has resulted in narrow cost-profit margins. Poultry operations cannot allow ectoparasitic and nuisance insects to interfere with production, nor can they afford high pest control expenses. For production to be profitable, poultry production must be managed to reduce the incidence of insect pests.

Poultry are infested with a variety of insects and mites that live on the skin and feed on skin debris, feathers and blood. This activity can lower growth rates, reduce egg production and, if the infestation is heavy, cause debilitation and death of the birds. In addition, poultry houses can be a breeding source for a variety of flies that may be vectors of poultry diseases or, at the least, be a nuisance which may bring about litigation from neighbors.