Nesting blue tit has fleas - treatable?
Discussion
I've set up a nest box with built-in camera and we have a blue tit in residence, sitting on one egg so far.
She seems to have fleas (they are visible on the tv image) and is always having a good scratch. It can't be much fun for her.
Is there any way I can get some flea powder in to the nest box without frightening her? I was thinking of sprinkling it on the entrance hole so it gets transferred into the feathers as the parents come and go? Any brand/type of flea powder? I was going to get some that is used for poultry. Is that safe to use?
Any thoughts/advice appreciated...
She seems to have fleas (they are visible on the tv image) and is always having a good scratch. It can't be much fun for her.
Is there any way I can get some flea powder in to the nest box without frightening her? I was thinking of sprinkling it on the entrance hole so it gets transferred into the feathers as the parents come and go? Any brand/type of flea powder? I was going to get some that is used for poultry. Is that safe to use?
Any thoughts/advice appreciated...
I can't see it being a bad idea if you wait until the box is vacated, puff a bit of poultry flea power in and around if you can, if the infestation is really bad any chicks will be literally sucked to death anyway, so the risk of causing abandonment is probably worth it. My Great Tit box was alive with fleas last year, not nice.
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