28/08/2026
INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL PARASITE CONTROL IN POULTRY
Parasites are one of the hidden causes of poor growth, low egg production, weakness and poor profits in poultry farming. A farmer may provide good feed and vaccines, but if parasites are not controlled, birds may still perform poorly.
1. What are poultry parasites?
Parasites are organisms that live on or inside chickens and take nutrients from them or cause irritation and damage.
They are mainly divided into:
A. Internal parasites – live inside the bird.
B. External parasites– live on the skin, feathers or around the body.
2. Common internal parasites
Roundworms– can cause poor growth, weight loss and diarrhoea.
Tapeworms– compete with the bird for nutrients and may cause poor body condition.
Coccidia– damage the intestinal lining and can cause bloody or watery droppings, weakness and mortality.
Gapeworms– affect the respiratory system and may cause difficult breathing or gasping.
3. Common external parasites
Lice- cause irritation, feather damage and restlessness.
Mites– can cause itching, feather loss, anaemia and reduced production.
Fleas– irritate birds and can become a serious problem when heavily infested.
4. Signs of parasite infestation
Watch your birds for:
1. Poor growth despite adequate feeding.
2. Weight loss or poor body condition.
3. Reduced egg production.
4. Pale combs and wattles.
5. Diarrhoea or abnormal droppings.
6. Excessive scratching.
7. Feather loss or damaged feathers.
8. Restlessness, especially at night.
9. Weakness and reduced activity.
10. Gasping or difficulty breathing in severe cases.
5. How to control internal parasites
Maintain clean housing:Remove droppings and wet litter regularly.
Avoid overcrowding:Overcrowding increases contamination of the environment.
Keep feeders and drinkers clean:Prevent birds from eating feed contaminated with droppings.
Control wild birds and rodents:They can introduce or spread parasites.
Use appropriate dewormers when necessary: Do not deworm blindly or use human medicines. Use a poultry-approved product according to the label and veterinary advice.
Control coccidiosis properly:Coccidia require a specific control programme; ordinary dewormers do not treat coccidiosis.
6. How to control external parasites
Clean and disinfect poultry houses between batches.
* Replace heavily contaminated litter.
* Inspect birds regularly, especially around the vent, under the wings and around the neck.
* Treat the birds and their environment when an infestation is confirmed.
* Clean cracks, perches and hiding places where mites can survive.
* Avoid bringing used equipment from another farm without proper cleaning and disinfection.
7. Don't forget biosecurity
A farmer can treat parasites today and reintroduce them tomorrow through contaminated equipment, footwear, crates, rodents or newly introduced birds.
Good biosecurity + good hygiene + regular observation = better parasite control.
8. Important lesson for farmers
Don't wait until chickens become severely weak before investigating parasites. Regular observation of droppings, body condition, feathers, production and behaviour can help you detect problems early.
Also remember: not every case of diarrhoea, weight loss or poor production is caused by worms.** Bacterial diseases, viruses, nutritional deficiencies, poor feed quality and management problems can produce similar signs.
Healthy birds eat well, grow well, produce well—and ultimately make better profits.
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