Parasites are often a problem that those who raise chickens must be vigilant against. Lice, mites, worms, and even coccidia are all problems that can be guarded against by providing your chickens with a healthy environment.
Lice and mites are the easiest to prevent. Chickens who have access to plenty of free space are able to coat themselves with dust which prevents the parasites from becoming colonized on the bird. This is why free range chickens rarely suffer from external parasites while tightly caged chickens often have them. Worms and other parasites, such as coccidia, are discovered during routine fecal tests, so it is important to have the chicken’s fecal matter tested regularly throughout the year.
This is another reason that a clean environment is crucial to raising healthy chickens, as these parasites are spread through fecal matter. These parasites can be eradicated with medication that will need to be prescribed by your veterinarian.
