Can You Use Frontline on Chickens?

Frontline has been at the forefront as one of the most preferred fleas and lice eradication treatments in chicken coops lately. However, one huge drawback is that the product faces massive rejection from several animal experts because of a couple of detrimental effects.

In addition, there is limited documentation on whether Frontline’s chemical composition ends up in eggs and chicken meat.  Consequently, we will expound more on Frontline, its health risks, and better alternatives you can find in the market.

What is Frontline?

Frontline is a tick and flea treatment option popularly with an active ingredient known as Fipronil. The product is classified under phenylpyrozoles chemicals and categorized under Class chemicals which presumably cause cancer in humans and animals.

Still, there is minimal evidence on whether Fipronil is carcinogenic or mutagenic. Also, there are selected instances where experts linked Fipronil with thyroid tumors in rats. All in all, WHO (World Health Organization) lists down Fipronil as a moderately hazardous element easily passed down to future offspring.

In essence, Frontline works by impinging on the parasite’s nervous system. When applied directly to an animal, the active ingredient remains on the skin for a long time. This works perfectly in eradicating mentioned parasites when they come into contact with the animal. At the moment, no known product repels parasites right away.

In short, the treatment only works when the parasites come into contact with the active ingredient left on the animal’s skin. It is worth pointing out that Frontline management on various pests differs from one to the other. For instance, you should apply it monthly to manage brown dog ticks.

On the other hand, spray every four to twelve weeks to control adult fleas. For flea allergy dermatitis, apply at least monthly on all affected animals. One significant advantage is that you can use it on animals as early as two days old. Furthermore, it is easy to apply safety guidelines and administration details attached.

Before applying Frontline on any of your chickens, it is essential to consult with your vet first. This is because most experts totally disregard the use of Frontline Spray on other pets apart from dogs and cats. On that account, take extra caution around your chickens and only use it when necessary.

How to Use Frontline on Chickens?

Whether taken orally or applied topically, the chicken’s body absorbs a certain degree of Fipronil in the fatty tissues. After some time, the body breaks down the active ingredient straight into the bloodstream.

Various studies indicate that a considerable quantity of Frontline remains in the bird’s body for a long time. This process is called the half-life, which dictates the duration a living organism’s body manages to eradicate half of the drug dosage consumed.

Studies signify that Fipronil’s half-life can last for approximately eight days. Most frustrating is that it takes several months to entirely exterminate the last Fipronil component from a chicken’s body. Indeed, that’s a long period for a chemical component to stay in a living organism.

When it comes to Frontline use on chickens, some experts believe that the enhanced long life denotes a possibility that Fipronil metabolites build up in poultry bodies. Surprisingly, a chicken’s body can retain Fipronil for at least eight weeks.

For this reason, it may sound unwise to expose your feathered friends to such a long duration of Fipronil contact. Still, some people may argue that Frontline remains one of the most effective fleas and ticks terminators despite the risks involved.

However, your chicken’s wellbeing comes first in all circumstances. Therefore, it is prudent to consider other safer alternatives rather than exposing your chickens to life-threatening products.

Is Frontline Safe for Chickens?

Rarely would reliable animal experts use Frontline on chickens for pest control. As mentioned above, Frontline can cause a whole load of ugly reactions on fowls, mainly when used for long periods.

Remember that when chemical substances break down in a chicken body, other components known as metabolites get created. In total, Frontline produces seven metabolites. Amongst them, experts consider Metabolite 46136 as the most potent and roughly six times toxic than the rest. Altogether, most vet products with Fipronil have less toxicity when exposed to cats and dogs.

Nevertheless, there is little evidence on whether this applies to chickens as well. It would help if you kept in mind that chickens can involuntarily ingest Frontline used on their skins through self-grooming. Although the quantity consumed can be negligible, we should consider the long-term effect and withdrawal symptoms on chickens.

Currently, the US disapproves of Fipronil on food animal varieties like chicken. According to Food Animal Residue Avoidance and Depletion Program (FARAD), it is not easy to pinpoint withdrawal intervals on an animal without supporting literature.

Unfortunately, the pesticide’s innate characteristic and scarcity of Fipronil pharmacokinetic data make it complicated to develop a proper data-driven analysis on the topic.

Amidst all, FARAD maintains a strict standing that animal lovers should not expose broilers and chicken layers to Fipronil for whatever reasons. The reason behind this is to minimize Fipronil entry into the food chain and block consumption by humans.

Does Fipronil End Up in Chicken Meat and Eggs?

Recent studies unveil that Fipronil can end up in poultry fat, meat, and eggs. As a matter of fact, it has surfaced as one of the pollutants in the egg supply. More analysis indicates that chickens can store Fipronil components for up to eight months. The effect is toxic either when ingested, inhaled, or absorbed via the skin.

Luckily, through proper management, most toxic effects are reversible in animals. As we all know, chicken eggs and meat are significant sources of food worldwide. Unfortunately, eggs are potential excretion of undesirable components picked from drinking water, food, soil, or any other substances within the yard.

This can pose a considerable risk in food production in the long run because contaminants transfer to consumers. Probably, this is one main reason why qualified vets steer away from Frontline application on poultry.

Additionally, Frontline guidelines indicate that you should not use it on animals weighing less than 5kgs. On average, an adult chicken weighs two to three kilograms. Based on this information, Fipronil classifies as an unhealthy way to eliminate parasites on your feathered friends.

Experts recommend at least 0 to 0.00003mg/kg per body weight daily when it comes to allowable Fipronil human consumption. The bottom line is that Fipronil only becomes a health risk to humans when consumed regularly and in extensive content.

Frontline Alternatives for Chickens

Most chicken parasites are stubborn and difficult to eliminate. Therefore it is essential to settle on an effective pest control option without putting your birds in danger. Take into account that pesticides may remove parasites on chicken’s skin but not on filthy corners of your coop. Thus, they may keep on re-infecting your flock, which can be highly frustrating.

Fortunately, an intensive clean-up can go a long way in keeping your poultry happy and healthy. Start by removing nesting materials, roosts, and floor litters. If you notice any parasites on these materials, dispose right away or burn them.

Then, mix four teaspoons of Malathion spray with at least one gallon of water. Using a squint container, spray generously over the coop, especially on floors, walls, and nesting areas.

Another option revolves around sprinkling a generous quantity of DE (diatomaceous earth) on a bare floor. The results are more effective if you spray Malathion solution first and allow it to dry completely. Do not forget to apply on adjacent areas or around the entire chicken enclosure.

Finally, use a flour sifter or sieve and sprinkle DE on your bird’s plumage. Repeat the same procedure after 10-14 days in three intervals to break the parasite’s life cycle.

That said, remember that Malathion belongs to a similar class with Sarin and tear gas. Therefore, take precautions and avoid touching your fowl’s food with it. Moreover, Diatomaceous can be unsafe to humans and young chicks when inhaled directly. Hence use a face mask and avoid spraying in a coop with tiny chicks.

For farmers wary of chemical pesticides, you can use natural preventive measures like garlic and brewer yeast. Of course, milder alternatives take longer on heavy infections and may require collaboration with a safe pesticide.

Can You Spray Chickens with Permethrin?

Permethrin is one of the most preferred treatments for scabies and lice in humans. Unknown to most people, a 10% spray of Permethrin is equally effective in eradicating lice in chicken coops. The brighter side is that it has low toxicity compared to other chemical pesticides.

Even so, do not allow direct contact with your flock when spraying. Instead, keep your birds away until the treatment dries completely. Then, repeat the process every three to four months, especially during warmer months.

Bottom Line

By now, we know that even with the slightest topical use, a negligible amount of Fipronil will still find its way in chicken eggs and meat. There is no point in putting your life at risk while safer pest control measures are on the market.

Take into consideration that even if your chickens may not display physical side effects from a Frontline exposure, the long-term effect can be far much detrimental.