are lice seen at night & kinda off white in color or are they mites?

[McGoo]

When I investigated pyrethrum - this is what I got. Is this the same thing? If so, I think I'll steer clear of it since I am uber concerned about my livestock and pets. Thanks all.

Permethrin is a common synthetic chemical, widely used as an insecticide, acaricide, and insect repellent. It belongs to the family of synthetic chemicals called pyrethroids and functions as a neurotoxin, affecting neuron membranes by prolonging sodium channel activation. It is not known to rapidly harm most mammals or birds, but is dangerously toxic to cats and fish. In general, it has a low mammalian toxicity and is poorly absorbed by skin.

In agriculture, permethrin is mainly used on cotton, wheat, maize, and alfalfa crops. Its use is controversial because, as a broad-spectrum chemical, it kills indiscriminately; as well as the intended pests, it can harm beneficial insects including honey bees, and aquatic life.

 

[Terri O]

There are two chemicals. One is Pyrethrum and on is permethrin. BOth of them are listed on many dog chemicals. For lice I use Sevin directly on the birds. It is Carbaryl. I dont wash the birds...just dust 'em up good and sprinkle a little in the nest boxes. Lice stay on the bird. THen make a dust bath with wood ash, DE and dry sand or dirt. THey will be able to maintain themselves after the initial infestation is done. HTH--Terri O

ETA: protect yourself with a dust mask (paper ones work) an apron and gloves!

 

[McGoo]

I just finished cleaning out the coops and now I'm gonna dust all the chickens... some I'll bathe too.

Question - do I need to totally clean out the coop again in two weeks when I dust the chickens again???

 

[franklinstreetwest]

Just wanted to submit that, just because it comes from a natural source does not mean to be more liberal. Natural substances still need to be respected as damaging chemicals. Just follow application instructions and don't over-compensate. I remember having problems with chicken lice when I was in 4-H as a kid....And although they will crawl on you and the thought of them makes your skin crawl, they are not going to live on you like the human lice.

carbaryl is the main ingredient in Sevin and it would not be my choice, however it will work
Pyrethrin is an incecticide (from a species of chrysanthemum....again, just because it's a plant doesn't mean it's warm and fuzzy, remember that ricin is a DEADLY powder that will kill in the smallest doses and it comes from the lowly castor bean and many other commonly grown garden plants can be at the very least harmful if used incorrectly)
permethrin is used in human lice and for many other gardening and anti-insect applications at different rates and with different delivery systems
diatomaceous earth will kill the lice and anything else with an exoskeleton (you can get food grade from amazon.com, that is "safer" than the garden grade) just dust it right into the vent feathers and in the bedding

But never mistake "natural" for "safe in any quantity"

 

[sheila3935]

DE will kill bees too. I was told that if you use it on your vegetables dont put it on when they are flowering cause it will kill the bees.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

Absolutely correct that D.E. will kill bees! It is natual, derived from fossilized diatoms, but deadly to the good bugs for sure! A proof positive that natural isn't safe by nature. Used responsibly it will do a job that is needed without causing unintended harm.

 

[franklinstreetwest]

An additional note as I'm brushing up on chemicals.....permethrin, although widely used for insect control, is EXTREMELY dangerous to cats. Not sure that it applies in this case, but I thought it would be good to note for those interested.

 

[jaimslee4u]

Quote:
You should be all rite as long as you dust it good and spread it around.

 

[Bear Foot Farm]

I used it to Dust on the bird & within the coop as well as mixing it with their food for internal parasites.

DE has no effect on internal parasites.

It kills by cutting the waxy coating on hard shelled insects, and then absorbing their bodily fluids and dehydrating them​

 

[jaimslee4u]

Quote:
DE has no effect on internal parasites.

It kills by cutting the waxy coating on hard shelled insects, and then absorbing their bodily fluids and dehydrating them

Thank you for letting me know. I have always heard that it works internally as well but I am not a scientist.