An infestation of bedbugs recently discovered in a Saskatchewan layer barn is not a common occurrence in Canada, says a poultry veterinarian.
Dr. Jenny Fricke, poultry extension veterinarian at the University of Saskatchewan, said only one of about 70 poultry barns in the province has reported the problem after workers hired to clean out Pedigree Poultry near Regina Beach reported bites and large numbers of the bugs.
Clinton Monchuk, chief executive officer of Chicken Farmers of Saskatchewan, said all producers have been informed that bedbugs were found and told to be aware of them.
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The insects have never before been reported as a problem.
“I have colleagues in the United States who deal with far more operations on a much larger scale and the incidence there is certainly on the rise,” Fricke said.
An internet search indicates even backyard chicken flocks may become infested.
In the Saskatchewan case, Fricke said it’s likely bugs entered the barn on someone’s clothing because bedbugs are closely associated with humans.
She said her recent “crash course” in bedbugs seems to indicate that populations are rising in both people and animals, and there is a lack of expertise in how to deal with them.
Bedbugs have a tremendous reproductive capacity, she said.
“One insect can double in number every 16 days in comfortable, appropriate environmental conditions,” Fricke said.
It would take 34 weeks to have more than one million bugs.
“The biggest risk is that heavy infestations can serve as an irritant to the birds,” she said.
“They can impact overall bird productivity, so there can be decreases in egg production. You could have nest box aversion or aversion to certain places in the barn where populations are high, and, in certain cases, anemia.”
James Glen, owner of Pedigree Poultry, did not return phone calls, but told other media that he tried spraying a bleach solution and spreading diatomaceous earth to rid the empty barn of bugs.
Fricke said an integrated approach is best.
Useful treatments include heat in empty barns and insecticides, some of which can be used when birds are present.
“From what I understand, (bedbugs are) relatively easy to kill, but the problem is finding all of them to make sure you’ve had a chance to knock them out,” she said.
Some farmers have asked about freezing and whether Saskatchewan’s cold temperatures would help control bedbugs.
Fricke said that might help with bedbugs, but when she wants to save other pathogens in the lab she freezes them.
“You might be preserving other pathogens you don’t necessarily want to preserve.”
karen.briere@producer.com
