Can Humans Get Lice from Chickens?

If you raise backyard chickens in Hampton Roads and someone in your home gets head lice, it’s natural to wonder… did the chickens cause this?

Short answer: No.

Humans cannot get head lice from chickens.

Poultry lice and human head lice are completely different species. Poultry lice are adapted to live on birds. Human head lice are adapted to live only on human scalps. They cannot survive on the wrong host.

So if your child has lice in Virginia Beach or Norfolk, it did not come from your coop.

Head lice spread through:

• Direct head-to-head contact
• Sleepovers
• School contact
• Sharing hair accessories

They do not come from farm animals, backyard chickens, or outdoor play.

If you are searching for lice treatment in Virginia Beach, lice removal in Norfolk, or mobile lice treatment in Hampton Roads, PALS offers both in-clinic and in-home services for fast, professional treatment.