Bird Fleas

Bird fleas can multiply very quickly in hen houses, battery cages and other similar environments.

Appearance

• Adult fleas are generally brownish in colour, and 1/32″-5/16″ long.
• The eyes and antennae are prominent. Their mouth-parts, which project downwards from the head, are well-adapted for piercing skin and sucking blood.
• This species (Ceratophyllus Gallinae) is also known as the hen flea, and is the most common bird flea.

Life Cycle

• Bird fleas can only live for a short time indoors, and only in nests.
• They breed during the nesting period when the host and/or young are available for regular blood meals.

Habits

• Adult bird fleas live in bird nests. When the birds move from the nest, the adult fleas must find a new host.
• If the nest is reused, the pupae will hatch, mate and continue the breeding cycle.