What Do Bedbugs And Chickens Have To Do With One Another?
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Yet another externality of animal agribusiness: bedbug infestation.
The poultry industry also has become a sort of mass-transit system for the insect, he said. He’s found millions of the bugs living on breeder birds, which are sent across the country.
Poultry facilities “are so bad that if you walk in there even with a (protective suit), you’ll still get bedbugs on you,” he said. “Poultry workers could be moving bedbugs from one place to another.” (source)
Can you say GROSS?
I lived in a tiny NYC apartment that was invaded by bedbugs and those nasty things are NOT fun. I don’t wish that on anyone. Not bedbugs, fleas, mosquitoes, ticks, or any other blood sucking insect. Yuck.
In case you were wondering what “the vegan position on pests like bedbugs” was, let me tell my thoughts. Veganism is about abstaining from intentional, unnecessary harm to animals. Self-defense is an acceptable reason to kill another animal, human or non. And thus, I believe it’s acceptable to kill bedbugs (if you can, good luck with that). But prevention is always the best medicine so do what you can to keep bedbugs from invading your home: stop the bedbug mass-transit system on poultry. Stop consuming poultry and eggs!
Very interesting! I never associated one with the other – But it does sound totally feasible that bed bugs are transmitted via chickens… I’m sure these birds must also have heavy infestations of mites as well.
Oh… BTW – Your position on killing bugs/insects as self defense. I’m totally in agreement – fleas, mosquitoes, ticks – all fall into that category for me. While I wouldn’t go out of my way to harm them – It they are a threat to me and mine I find it totally justifiable.