Food safety
Can Chickens Eat Ticks? Yes, But They Won't Control Them
Yes, chickens can and do eat ticks, but they will not clear a yard of them. Penn State Extension reviewed the research and concluded that chickens and guinea fowl do not eat large numbers of ticks and likely play a limited role in tick control in North America. There has never been a North American study of chickens controlling ticks at all. Worse, some ticks feed on chickens, so a flock needs checking too. Here is what the evidence shows and what actually reduces ticks.
By Matt GarnettUpdated November 13, 20265 min read4 sources
Do chickens really eat ticks?
They do, given the chance. University of Vermont Extension says chickens devour bugs, ticks and other pests, and the studies behind that reputation are real. Penn State Extension describes African research in which free-range chickens kept with cattle fed on and removed dozens of ticks per bird, and the University of Rhode Island TickEncounter program notes ticks found in the crops and gizzards of hungry chickens penned with cattle.
The limits matter, though. Penn State points out that those studies did not count the ticks on the cattle, so they never showed tick numbers fell, and it is not clear they apply to backyard flocks here. TickEncounter adds that the work involved livestock ticks in Africa and was not a robust test of free-range tick control.
Why chickens are not tick control
Penn State Extension states that there have been no studies on using chickens to control ticks in North America. The closest evidence is three studies of guinea fowl, the bird most often sold as a tick eater. All three found the birds ate adult ticks, but the two that looked at nymphs found guinea fowl did not reduce the nymphal tick population.
That gap matters because nymphs are the stage most likely to bite people unnoticed; Penn State notes they are smaller than adults, so a bite is easier to miss. The authors concluded guinea fowl are not effective at controlling ticks, and the University of Rhode Island found virtually no science behind claims that backyard chickens keep ticks down.
Treats go further scattered in a chicken run than piled in a dish, and a proper feeder keeps their complete feed, which should be most of what they eat, clean and dry.
Ticks feed on chickens too
The relationship runs both ways. The University of Rhode Island TickEncounter program titled its note on the subject Chickens may eat ticks, but ticks certainly eat chicks, after a keeper reported finding ticks on her chicks from June onward. They were identified as longhorned ticks, showing that this species will feed on chickens when it gets the chance.
Penn State makes a related point about guinea fowl: the birds served as hosts for nymphal ticks, which may increase the number of ticks in an area. So letting poultry roam tick-heavy brush is not a free service. Check birds, especially young ones, around the eyes, ears, comb and wattles, and under the wings, during tick season.
What actually reduces ticks around the coop
Penn State Extension says other methods, such as landscape modifications, using tick tubes or applying acaricides, are more effective than relying on fowl. Area-wide options it lists include eliminating tick habitat and creating mulch or stone tick barriers around lawns, which keeps the woodland edge where ticks wait from reaching the places people and birds use.
Around a coop that means keeping grass short, clearing leaf litter and brush from the run perimeter, and stacking wood away from where the flock spends time. If you use any acaricide near poultry, check the label for use around animals and egg-laying birds, and ask a vet who treats poultry before treating the birds themselves.
Checking chicks and hens, and when to call a vet
If you find a tick on yourself or a bird and want to know what it is, TickEncounter invites people to submit a picture of any tick for identification by email. Knowing the species tells you more about local risk than guessing, and the longhorned tick, for one, is known to feed on chickens.
A few ticks on a healthy hen are usually a nuisance rather than an emergency, but a heavy load can drain a small bird. Texas A&M AgriLife describes a sick chicken as one that holds her head low, looks fluffed out, is lethargic, has no appetite, loses weight or limps. Any of those, or many ticks on a chick, warrants a call to a vet.
Bugs and treats that suit a flock
Foraging for insects is natural and healthy for chickens. University of Minnesota Extension notes that chickens are omnivores that eat grains, fruits, vegetables and insects, so let them scratch through a safe, well-kept yard. Texas A&M AgriLife says treats like mealworms are fine in moderation.
Bugs and treats both count toward a small share of the diet. UF/IFAS Extension and Texas A&M recommend keeping treats under 10% of what a chicken eats, with a balanced layer feed doing the rest. Enjoy the sight of hens chasing insects, but plan tick control separately, and keep checking the flock.
This page is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace advice from a veterinarian who treats poultry.
Common questions
Do chickens eat deer ticks?
Chickens will eat ticks they find, but Penn State Extension notes there are no North American studies of chickens controlling ticks, and guinea fowl studies found no drop in the nymphs that most often bite people.
Are guinea fowl better than chickens for ticks?
Not by enough to rely on. Penn State Extension reports three studies in which guinea fowl ate adult ticks but did not reduce nymphal ticks, and the authors concluded guinea fowl are not effective at controlling ticks.
Can ticks make chickens sick?
Ticks do feed on chickens: the University of Rhode Island documented longhorned ticks on a keeper's chicks. A heavy load can weaken small birds, so check your flock in tick season and call a vet if a bird seems unwell.
How many ticks can a chicken eat?
African studies described by Penn State Extension found free-range chickens kept with cattle removed dozens of ticks per bird, but they did not show tick numbers fell, and that work may not apply to backyard flocks.
Is it worth getting chickens to get rid of ticks?
Get chickens for eggs and company, not tick control. Penn State Extension says landscape changes, tick tubes and acaricides are more effective than relying on fowl, and the University of Rhode Island found virtually no science behind the claim.
Sources we checked
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. If your pet is unwell or injured, contact your veterinarian.
