- Jan 14, 2010
- 7
- 1
- 7
Someone told me chickens almost always have lice so I never checked or worried. They have been healthy for years. But 3 days ago hen stopped moving around 1 day, so I isolated her, 1 1/2 days later she died. That night 2nd hen stopped walking around. Now concerned, did physical exam. Lice abundant, but I never thought I'd see what I saw: lesions (like skin eaten off) about 2 1/2 inches long by 1 inch wide. Most scabby & dry. Checked more chickens - 2 more not moving much have lesions. One lesion smelly with pus. All my oldest hens. Others have lice but no lesions. YET. Someone said it must be the lice eating the skin. Does this really happen? She said to dip in bucket of diotomaceous earth & wood ash mixture & rub their skin with it. Then thoroughly clean all bedding, coop, nest boxes. Should I trust this natural method or get some pyrethrin or ?? Help!