Can permethrin be used on chickens?

[khind]

I usually dilute Permethrin 10 concentrate 5 ml (1 tsp) in 1 quart (32 ounces) of water which is 1:230.

Do you know if the liquid tends to do a better job than powder on the actual birds?

 

[khind]

Permethrin is safe for chickens. I use the powder though so I can't answer your question. The powder can be put into a nylon sock, like a knee-high, and used as a powder puff all over the chickens, under their wings, between their legs, etc. The liquid makes a good spray for the coop, to get between boards and in cracks, on and under the roost, etc. I think you can also spray the chickens but an Educator like @Eggcessive, @coach723 or @Wyorp Rock might know more about that.

Corrected typos

Do you know if either of these powders work? The Garden & Poultry is listed as 25% permethrin, but the Gordon's doesn't list a %age.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

You can put the Permethrin powder in a sock or knee-high nylon and use it like a powder puff on the bird, being sure to get under their wings, between legs and body, etc. I'd wear goggles and a mask myself.

 

[Finchbreeder]

I don't know if you have Coopex powder that you mix with water in USA - that is what we use for feather lice and ants in the shelters here in Aust. Just spray it everywhere, they can get drenched in it and no problems. Just follow manufacturers directions.

 

[coach723]

Do you know if the liquid tends to do a better job than powder on the actual birds?

Many like to use the powder on the birds so they don't have to worry about them getting chilled. But either will work if used per the instructions. I think the liquid is better for doing premises as it's easier to get it into all the nooks and crannies. The Gordons does say it's effective for northern fowl mites, so would assume strength is enough. You could contact the manufacturer directly and see if they can answer. Gordons also makes a liquid permethrin, ready to use and a concentrate that you dilute in water (label has directions for dilution for use on birds and use on premises, different dilutions for each).
Do remember that permethrin is toxic to cats.

 

[khind]

Many like to use the powder on the birds so they don't have to worry about them getting chilled. But either will work if used per the instructions. I think the liquid is better for doing premises as it's easier to get it into all the nooks and crannies. The Gordons does say it's effective for northern fowl mites, so would assume strength is enough. You could contact the manufacturer directly and see if they can answer. Gordons also makes a liquid permethrin, ready to use and a concentrate that you dilute in water (label has directions for dilution for use on birds and use on premises, different dilutions for each).
Do remember that permethrin is toxic to cats.

Treating the birds would be fruitless until i could treat the premises, right? I just discovered lots of lice egg clusters on a hen, and being only Monday and the distance I travel for work, I wouldn't be able to do a coop clean out and spray until the weekend!

A dear friend passed away suddenly, and I made an emotionally charged decision to take some of his birds. Didn't check thru their feathers thoroughly enough. Now I see one other bird who also has clusters, though only a couple (still bad, I know). I've had them for 2.5 weeks, so I need to help them ASAP.

 

[coach723]

Optimally you would treat all as soon as possible. I doubt waiting til the weekend would make much difference unless you have a bird that's acting ill. If they came to you with them, they've probably had them for a while.

 

[khind]

Many like to use the powder on the birds so they don't have to worry about them getting chilled. But either will work if used per the instructions. I think the liquid is better for doing premises as it's easier to get it into all the nooks and crannies. The Gordons does say it's effective for northern fowl mites, so would assume strength is enough. You could contact the manufacturer directly and see if they can answer. Gordons also makes a liquid permethrin, ready to use and a concentrate that you dilute in water (label has directions for dilution for use on birds and use on premises, different dilutions for each).
Do remember that permethrin is toxic to cats.

Omg, I'm having a very hard time finding product in stock!
Plus, heavy rains are coming the next few days. Have you ever had to treat in humid, or even wet, conditions?

I've found a 0.25% permethrin Garden & Poultry dust (only 2 left at TSC; hopefully, I can get one before they're gone tomorrow).
The quickest I can get Permethrin 10 liquid for the premises is Martin's on Sunday; hopefully no holdup with shipping. I had hoped to treat by Friday.

So hopefully Sunday will be the day. Rain chances plummet Sunday (per latest forecast anyway) to 20%, but it will be very humid from the days prior, and I'm concerned about how long after spraying the coop it will take for the product to dry enough for them to go inside.

Hopefully it doesn't rain and is not too wet to have them outside the run in their outer yard while I treat the premises, so I can treat each with powder and bring them back into the structure one by one. Otherwise, it will be very tricky treating the roost with them in the run. I live in a hot area so there's a lot of open wall between the roost and run.

The one hen with lots of egg clusters (most of which I softened and cut off last night) is also crawling with lice! It's horrible! I checked the other hens she's roosting with, and no one else has visible crawling lice, but they will soon! And one of them has some smaller egg clusters. I feel so bad for them!

 

[casportpony]

My chickens have lice and I ordered some Permethrin because the Elector ESP is taking forever to arrive. The label on it says good for goats, horses, dogs, coops, but does not mention the dosage for use ON chickens. How much do I put in how much water to spray on them? Or is this not safe? Thanks

It's label for use on poultry and in poultry houses:

 

[casportpony]

Do you know if the liquid tends to do a better job than powder on the actual birds?

I use both. I only use the liquid on them in the summer because they get too chilled if it's not warm out.