Applying liquid permethrin to birds?

[Rivers]

I have been suspecting that one of my hens may have some mites/lice. I have not seen any but the hen scratches her head a lot, and has shown a detiororation of feathers especially at the neck, but also all over colour has become dull. This is a youngish bird, has not even layed yet.

I just remembered I have a bottle of Liquid Permethrin for treating mosquito nets. Would it be a bad idea to use this on the birds? Obviously I would dilute it.

 

[Judy]

Permiethrin is used to treat lice/mites frequently, but I have no idea aobut the dose, or even whether you can put on an animal what was formulated for nets.

 

[SundownWaterfowl]

I use it on my birds/coops/roosts. The residue lasts about 30 days. I put it in a large pump sprayer and spray the birds down with it.

 

[al6517]

Yes you can use it and it is very effective and safe, I use it twice a year need it or not as a prevenitive. Just follow the dillution directions on the container. I find it is much easier to have 2 people to dip birds, reason being once the dip is made I like one person to hold the bird in the dip to back level to keep it fairly calm, while the other person works the solution into the folds under the wings and neck & head, not into the eye's. Once this is done the bird is put into an open air cage to dry naturaly. I then strain the left over mixture in a garden pump type tank sprayer. With the coop/runs/nest baxes ect totaly cleaned out, I then spray the heck out of every nook and cranny in their living areas, paying special attention to underneath of roost and alike.

It works very well and is complete.

AL

 

[ChemKelly]

Old thread I know, but some interesting info from here: http://extoxnet.orst.edu/pips/permethr.htm

Ecological Effects:

• Effects on birds: Permethrin is practically non-toxic to birds.
• The oral LD50 for the permethrin formulation, Pramex, is greater than 9900 mg/kg in mallard ducks, greater than 13,500 mg/kg in pheasants, and greater than 15,500 mg/kg in Japanese quail.

9900 mg = 9.9 grams
So you would need to administer at least 10 grams (of 100% permethrin) per kilogram orally to kill a duck! (skin absorption will be even higher)

 

[sgtdawg]

Can't get any dust in large quantities so decided to try liquid permethrin thanks for the info

 

[Sare bear]

I just found lastnight that my hen, a week from hatching, was covered in mites I did however dust with De and remove old bedding, I found a bottle of permethrin 5% & im wondering if I can use it without diluting ? Im about to check on her to see if the diluted spray did anything, however im worried of getting the mites under control before the chicks hatch, and would it be safe to use on them? All or any responses are very much appreciated. This is my second year with them, first that im allowing one hen to go broody.

 

[Toddrick]

I use a .5% solution on my clothing. Permethrin is the active ingredient in most flea and tick shampoos for pets, and I think the amount is usually less than .5% in those, but farm products for large animals have up to 10%. One poultry dust I just looked up only contained .25% Permethrin.

I would probably use .5-1%, depending on severity, and repeat once a week for three weeks. I believe as long as the hen is completely dry before touching the chicks, that it should not rub off on them (but if it does then it should be better than mites!).