Bad mite/lice infestation

[TrialNerror]

Have you ever tried demon dust? I think it is basically a suped-up version of Permethrin. I got it at the co-op and it has, by far, the most effective thing we have ever dusted with. We dusted the birds, the coop, and all through and around the run. I couldn't really find any information online with regard to the safety of chickens but everyone lived through it and they are finally starting to recover and grow new feathers.

 

[RoosterML]

OP is using Pestene which is a common lice/mite treatment found in other countries. The OP is in AUSTRALIA.
Some products that we have here are not available or they are banned in other countries.
Sounds lice the active lice are gone, it's just the eggs left. Even permethrin won't kill those, the lice would have to hatch for it to be effective.

Correct that’s why you would treat in 5 to 7 day cycles

 

[aart]

Have you ever tried demon dust? I think it is basically a suped-up version of Permethrin. I got it at the co-op and it has, by far, the most effective thing we have ever dusted with. We dusted the birds, the coop, and all through and around the run. I couldn't really find any information online with regard to the safety of chickens but everyone lived through it and they are finally starting to recover and grow new feathers.

Never heard of Cypermethrin

 

[ozzy chooks]

So you are still seeing live bugs moving around on her skin?
Are they lice or mites...or both?
Some mites live in the coop structure and only feed on birds at night.
Is she your only chicken?
You need to treat all the birds you have.

I couldn't see moving bugs on her skin but seen eggs - many - and some (maybe dead) bugs, i.e. I could see few but they were not moving.

So, as some of you said, the product I am using won't work on eggs.
What should I do to get rid of the eggs? Maybe the eggs are dead but still there?

Should I bathe the hen with warm water to clean the eggs?
Somebody suggest using coconut oil. How do I go about that? Suffocating the eggs as scale leg mites?
I previously used coconut oil on one hen because she was getting bullied and loosing feathers and I used it to rub her and protect her skin. Should I rub the oil around the skin and the affected areas?

Or should I use another product such as the demon WP?

I inspected almost daily the other hens and no sign of crawlers.
As suggested, I will treat them all nonetheless including the coop and the laying beds even though she is not using them.

Thanks everybody

 

[aart]

If you have treated 3 times over 15 days all the live bugs are probably gone.
The eggs are likely done hatching, but rubbing coconut oil on them should ensure they are dead and help to remove the remains of them.

Just keep examining birds very few days or so to make sure there are no live bugs.

 

[TrialNerror]

Never heard of Cypermethrin
View attachment 1946245

We went nuclear Holocaust with regular Permethrin and it did nothing. We tried spraying and powder multiple times. This stuff is incredible. You can see bugs walk through it and just keel over.

 

[aart]

We went nuclear Holocaust with regular Permethrin and it did nothing. We tried spraying and powder multiple times. This stuff is incredible. You can see bugs walk through it and just keel over.

Oh, the Y-Tex Python Dust one has "Zetacypermethrin" and "Piperonyl butoxide".
Different from the Demon Dust with 40% Cypermethrin.
Wonders how these effect chicken eggs...if you're using them on the birds themselves and not just the coop structure?

Wonders if our resident researchers could investigate these chemicals further?
@Cyprus @casportpony @Wyorp Rock are you interested, or tag someone else who would be?

 

[ozzy chooks]

update: I bought a liquid spray product this morning -
info at this page
https://www.vetnpetdirect.com.au/products/vfail
active ingredients Permethrin 1.25 g/L, Piperonyl Butoxide 6.25 g/L, Methoprene 20m g/L

I sprayed all the girls tonight, changed the bedding in the laying beds and sprayed all over the coop.

I will let you know if it works on eggs or I will still need to use coconut oil to rub off/kill the eggs.

In the process I might have scared the girls and activate them a bit with the light from the torch.
One kept going on the floor after I put her on the roosting bar and then laid an egg. Poor her I hope she is going to be OK.