Sticktight fleas and vaseline question...

[Birdofire1]

So I just discovered I have hen fleas in my flock and it's pretty bad on two of them. I couldn't figure out what I was seeing. I have been told that putting petroleum jelly on the fleas can work but no one says what happens afterwards. Do the fleas fall off after smothering them or do you still have to pick them off? I'm leaning towards pyrethrin based treatment but don't like a lot of chemicals. Opinions are welcome!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So I just discovered I have hen fleas in my flock and it's pretty bad on two of them. I couldn't figure out what I was seeing. I have been told that putting petroleum jelly on the fleas can work but no one says what happens afterwards. Do the fleas fall off after smothering them or do you still have to pick them off? I'm leaning towards pyrethrin based treatment but don't like a lot of chemicals. Opinions are welcome!

Personally, I'd use Permethrin to get rid of the Fleas.

Step by step info on how to do this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...tight-fleas-in-poultry-with-permethrin.74325/

 

[Birdofire1]

I've seen that post but I avoid chemicals when possible. I ended up getting some pyrthrin instead, haven't used it yet. Was waiting to see if anyone could answer my question.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

So I just discovered I have hen fleas in my flock and it's pretty bad on two of them. I couldn't figure out what I was seeing. I have been told that putting petroleum jelly on the fleas can work but no one says what happens afterwards. Do the fleas fall off after smothering them or do you still have to pick them off? I'm leaning towards pyrethrin based treatment but don't like a lot of chemicals. Opinions are welcome!

I've seen that post but I avoid chemicals when possible. I ended up getting some pyrthrin (Pyrethrin) instead, haven't used it yet. Was waiting to see if anyone could answer my question.

Well, here's my Opinion.
If you read the article, then you would have seen that even when using Permethrin that not all fleas may fall off but can easily be picked or scraped off. Assumption would be that smothering with Vaseline, likey the Fleas need to be plucked, picked or scraped off as well if they don't fall off on their own.

 

[Birdofire1]

I don't mind picking a few stragglers off here and there, it's just that by the time I figured out what they were two of my hens have a thick cluster at the back of the neck and wattles and I don't think I can take spending a couple hours in 100+ heat picking them all off each of the hens, especially without a helper. So I went ahead and got some pyrethrin treatment and soothing topical treatment and I'm going to just go for it and see how it goes. I don't want them to suffer and that's got to be really itchy and inflammatory. Thank you for responding!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I don't mind picking a few stragglers off here and there, it's just that by the time I figured out what they were two of my hens have a thick cluster at the back of the neck and wattles and I don't think I can take spending a couple hours in 100+ heat picking them all off each of the hens, especially without a helper. So I went ahead and got some pyrethrin treatment and soothing topical treatment and I'm going to just go for it and see how it goes. I don't want them to suffer and that's got to be really itchy and inflammatory. Thank you for responding!

They sound terrible to deal with, hopefully most will fall off once you treat them.