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Anyone not have problems with Mites and Lice?

So far, I've only had one hen that had lice, but I bought her as a young pullet and didn't realize she had them already until I got her home. I kept her in a separate cage while I treated her with poultry dust, then treated her with it again 7 days later, and I haven't noticed any lice since. I do check some of the hens from time to time to make sure.

I've had 2 cases of scaley leg mites, one from a full grown hen I bought (I think I'll just stick to chicks from now on. lol!). I treated her legs with Vaseline every 3 days for a week or so, and she hasn't had any problems since, though her leg scales never did lay down completely. They're a definite improvement from how they looked when I first noticed it though. We also have a rooster who showed signs of scaley leg mites late last summer (treated with Vaseline), but he seems to have the problem this summer, too. Anyone experienced with this, is it possible the mites are gone, but his leg scales aren't looking any better? None of the other chickens are showing any signs of the mites, but I'm concerned that he may still have them, or have gotten them again since last year. I may just treat him again (maybe a mixture of poultry dust to his legs and then a layer of Vaseline).

I also sprinkle some poultry dust on the coop floor and on the roosts before I put down new bedding.
 
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actually every chicken owner has mites or lice, you cannot escape them, unless you clean the coop everyday with bleach.
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I'd argue that one. I've had birds for 6 yrs and never had lice or mites. I inspect whenever I pick any of them up and whenever I butcher I check through the feathers really closely. A breeder we know get mites periodically, but his husbandry practices are lacking. I don't get adult birds from him.

My grandfather raised meat birds and his only treatment was wood ashes in thier dust bathing areas. He had some serious bug phobias and would have freaked if they'd gotten anything. A lot depends on the climate you live in and your housing set up.
 
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First, Thank you for saying that. I am very diligent with my birds and I THOUGHT I had no lice....until we butchered 2...and found about 5 lice on them.Well of course I freaked.I felt soooo bad like I was a horrible chicken owner and tried to figure out where I went wrong...but guess what? After talking to people and researching? I found out that the amount I found was really not bad at all!! I inspected mine as well...but I found out it is EXTREMELY hard to see them on a feathered bird.I now have a regimen of dusting that I hope
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keeps them off my birds...but I also know I was NOT doing anything wrong....I meticulously clean the coop,waterers,feeders...etc. If it takes more than I already do...it would be a full time job!I think a lot depends on your area,climate etc as well.
I almost didn't post here because you feel like people will think you're one of those "dirty chicken" people. We are NOT and we still got a minute amount of lice...
Anyway, just my .02...
 
Is the lice that chickens get the same lice as people get? Do I need to worry about my kids or other people getting lice from my chickens (when I have them)?
 
I had chicken lice on all my chickens so I went and got Frontline for kittens and puppies, you put 2 drops on the back of the neck of small hens and 3 drops on the back of the neck of a large adult hen, it works wonders!!
 
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I'd argue that one. I've had birds for 6 yrs and never had lice or mites. I inspect whenever I pick any of them up and whenever I butcher I check through the feathers really closely. A breeder we know get mites periodically, but his husbandry practices are lacking. I don't get adult birds from him.

My grandfather raised meat birds and his only treatment was wood ashes in thier dust bathing areas. He had some serious bug phobias and would have freaked if they'd gotten anything. A lot depends on the climate you live in and your housing set up.

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I know its normal but its also preventable. I would like for someone to show me either one on any bird I have
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I am a hardcore preventative type person and have way to many to be playing games.
And wood ash does alot more than people know
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