Checking a few important points before Permethrin treatment

[khind]

I have a few quick questions:
*First, can someone please check my numbers for diluting permethrin 10?:
Bird = 19 mL/gal water (or 0.65 oz, same as listed for a dog); and
Inside Premises = 2 oz/3 gal? (I have a very small flock.)
*Many people recommend treating birds off the roost after dark for ease of application. If I do that, I'm thinking I'll treat the premises first, earlier in the day. And that should be fine, right? - because when the birds enter the coop later, anything that they might bring with them should die if it jumps off their bodies into the treated coop, and those things that are on them will be killed when I treat them in a few hours...? (The only thing is, I'll have to divert my hens to a different spot to lay - they have another alternate spot they sometimes use outside the coop.)
*And finally, I've read a few different things about spraying for lice and mites. I'm planning on just giving 2-4 good sprays to the skin at each of these 4 areas: vent, under each wing, at back of neck, and at base of tail feathers near the preening gland. Does that sound reasonable?
Thank you!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

2-4 good sprays to the skin at each of these 4 areas: vent, under each wing, at back of neck, and at base of tail feathers near the preening gland. Does that sound reasonable?

1 small spritz at each of those areas except the preen gland. I have never done the gland area, nor do I recommend it. Permethrin works very well, for most people.

The one I buy that is ready to use is the same concentration for birds and premises. It took me 2 year to go through a 32 ounce bottle with 82 birds, 2 large goats, 3 medium dogs, and the barn, lay boxes, roost and all. So that bottle will last you quite some time.

I just spray the lay boxes real quick after I collect eggs for the day (usually a couple hours before roost this time of year) or after I finish treating the birds that evening (noting my barn has lots of ventilation). Doing it first thing when letting them out in the morning might be good. Whatever works for you. It has residual effect and so should be no worry in that regards about treating the birds later that night. It usually dries pretty fast, soaking is not required. Most hens will be okay if locked out for a short period.

In case it hasn't been mentioned, I believe it it not for use in cats... and maybe not safe for them. Retreat in the recommended time frame according to directions to completely break the life cycle and prevent resistance.

ETA: I guess I should ask... have you already confirmed need to treat?

@Texas Kiki
Do you happen to know the dilution rate and able to confirm the OP's calculation or not? TIA!

 

[Kiki]

Which brand Permethrin do you have and are you wanting to mix a whole gallon worth or just a regular size spray bottle?

 

[khind]

Thank you
Re: Cats - Yes, you're correct, and it is clearly marked in the product booklet specifically to not use on cats. By the way, the reason I mentioned the dog dose for animal application is... I realize now, I got confused reading the booklet, as it breaks down application on surfaces vs spaces, and then the animal itself... Woah. I'll have to read through it again.

Thanks for the tips on how much to spray. I don't want to overdo it.

As for whether I'm sure they need it: I'm going to go back outside tonight with hubby and a headlamp and wipe below the roost for mites (which I only checked for once, and didn't see anything, but it might not have been long enough after they'd settled in for the night), and check each for lice. Like I said, I have a tiny flock of 4, and 2 of them have me curious feather-wise:
I've been finding that Roo, the rooster, has been shedding a couple feathers/day, and the area near his preen gland region the other day looked like it might have been thinning out. Also, one hen, Speckled Girl, looks like she's got predominantly young/new feathers encircling her preen gland region, which seems odd to me; almost like she's moulting, but way out of season, but I'm not seeing any longer, mature feathers come into that region (it's been a couple of weeks). The other 2 are not losing feathers at all, don't look odd in the feather region, and they look fine in that regard.
Then, a couple times recently, when I went to lock up the coop for the night, I saw maybe 3 of the 4 biting at themselves. And the other night - which was the last straw - my hen Masha was stepping and stomping as if something was biting or irritating her on the roost. That's when I figured we could have mites. (She looks and acts fine during the day.) I was all ready to treat them last night with my Elector PSP, but when I opened it up, I found it had turned into clay! (Another story - I actually posted about that last night out of desperation...)

They do regularly dust bathe, and when I check all 4 of their random feathers appearing in the dust pile, I haven't seen any lice eggs or nits - nothing stuck to any of the feather shafts. And I Had been regularly randomly checking the hens' bottoms and behind their necks since one of them had been separated to break her broodiness, and after she went back I'd noticed a dirty bottom. But whenever I'd check a couple of them, I found no indication of lice or mites on their bodies. Their feet looked fine too.

I haven't treated the coop since a year ago.

So, bottom line, I'll check tonight and hopefully find out what is going on.

 

[Kiki]

There are a few 'booklets' here.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/gordons-and-martins-10-permethrin-10-instructions.1312988/

Sounds like you have your instruction though so that post is probably useless.

 

[khind]

Which brand Permethrin do you have and are you wanting to mix a whole gallon worth or just a regular size spray bottle?

It's Gordons Permethrin 10, and IF the concentration is the same for the birds and the coop, I'll definitely mix up a gallon (or heck, I might be able to get away with a 1/2 gallon). If the concentration is different for the birds vs premises, then just a spray bottle amount for the birds, and a gallon (or 1/2) for the coop.

 

[Kiki]

It's Gordons Permethrin 10, and IF the concentration is the same for the birds and the coop, I'll definitely mix up a gallon (or heck, I might be able to get away with a 1/2 gallon). If the concentration is different for the birds vs premises, then just a spray bottle amount for the birds, and a gallon (or 1/2) for the coop.

You can use the same (bird one) dilution in the coop too.

The instructions basically just point out that if you do indeed have a serious problem you can spray a stronger dilution in the coop itself.

Don't over think this.

Spraying your coop real well will not hurt your birds.

I spray mine all the time.
I refuse to deal with any kind of bug... So I prevent them.

 

[khind]

Also, FYI - about Permethrin: I just ran across another thread today, from April of this year, in which people said Permethrin only needs to be applied once, and you only need to apply again if you see parasites on the birds again! I think the thread was called "Spraying with Permethrin", and the member who commented was Dawg (Dawg 53, I think - I do know he's a veteran member, and has always been spot on with this stuff). I was shocked to hear that, but at any rate, I'm going to double check that permethrin is a product that doesn't need at least 3 treatments to break a life cycle.

 

[Kiki]

I actually prefer this because there is no math involved, but I do buy the Martin's 10 too.

Martin's PERMETHRIN spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• 6
• flies lice mites permethrin

Martin's Horse & Stable Permethrin Spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• flies lice mites permethrin

Permethrin

The one above is labeled for poultry.

This one below (middle) does not say 'poultry' on the label but I use it too.

IMG_20180322_102709

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018

 

[Kiki]

Also, FYI - about Permethrin: I just ran across another thread today, from April of this year, in which people said Permethrin only needs to be applied once, and you only need to apply again if you see parasites on the birds again! I think the thread was called "Spraying with Permethrin", and the member who commented was Dawg (Dawg 53, I think - I do know he's a veteran member, and has always been spot on with this stuff). I was shocked to hear that, but at any rate, I'm going to double check that permethrin is a product that doesn't need at least 3 treatments to break a life cycle.

If you have a mite or lice issue you need to treat at least twice.
The second time to kill any newly hatched nasties before they get to egg laying age.

I would recommend at least three treatments just to be safe.

One treatment will not break the parasite's cycle.