External parasites infest poultry houses and breed in cracks of the buildings. The
species commonly found include lice, mites, fleas and ticks, though very rare. They
affect all ages of birds but are severe in chicks. They are spread by infected birds
and pets.

Lice lay eggs on the feathers and suck blood from chicken, causing discomfort.
Mites do not live on the host but in cracks in the poultry houses. They suck blood
from the birds at night and return to the cracks during the day. In severe infections,
birds become anemic.
Fleas suck blood from birds after which they drop and lay eggs in the litter. The
eggs mature to adult fleas. They can survive for up to a month without feeding