Chicken lice!

[Kiki]

I live in the country so mice just pretty much get in the coop however they can. They dig under the coop and get in like little gophers. I fed the chickens out in the run and also have their water set up out there. I pick up their food every night put not the water because i have ducks in with my chickens plus my landlord would have a cow if they didnt have water at all times. There is an irrigation ditch not even three feet from the coop so it would make much difference if i put their water up at night anyways because mice would still be able to drink from the ditch.

Just an idea...
Have you thought about placing hardwire cloth under your coop, it would not allow mice to dig in.

 

[talelady]

Just an idea...
Have you thought about placing hardwire cloth under your coop, it would not allow mice to dig in.

My coop is large and would need to be picked up with large equipment to do that. The run is covered with 1×1 hardware cloth on all sides. I have 21 birds so it is rather large.

 

[BaxterBarn]

Using the permethrin will take care of the head lice to, so probably no need to worry. I was just sharing cuz I didn't know that was a possibility and find it interesting info. 

Did you get the direction figured out now for the spray?

Some things are not prevalent in all areas and there also maybe seasonal changes to which pest it is. The residual effect is good enough to get a great handle on anything I know of. The report I read says certain pests do build resistance. I try not to over use anything and just when needed. Come to find out in my area, winter is lice time. 

One other thing... if your birds aren't super easy to catch, do it once they have gone to roost in the evening, a little after dark. They are calm, nobody runs away. Use a flashlight and keep it dim. I have 50+, so it helps a lot. Rounding them up and keeping track during the day just ain't happening.

Good luck! 

Do you light mist the infected areas or spray till dripping wet? How much is enough?

 

[BaxterBarn]

My coop is large and would need to be picked up with large equipment to do that. The run is covered with 1×1 hardware cloth on all sides. I have 21 birds so it is rather large.

I poured a 12-18" cement slab around the entire outside boarder of mine. I have not seen any indication of anything trying to dig under it. It also has a pulsating electric wire running along the bottom. Works pretty good!

 

[BaxterBarn]

Thinking about adopting some feral cats from my shelter to help with the problem but i also dont want them to go after my birds, especially my 8 week old chicks. So i may wait till they're bigger.

Just get a couple of kittens and let them grow up with the chickens. My two do an excellent job patrolling for mice. They make sure they "offer" them to me too. Lol gross! But easy to dispose of.

 

[Kiki]

My coop is large and would need to be picked up with large equipment to do that. The run is covered with 1×1 hardware cloth on all sides. I have 21 birds so it is rather large.

you could go around the whole thing...from the outside..make a skirt like thing.
(I can't for the life of me think what people call this)

Go up the side about 6 inches or so and then out away from the coop a good foot.....throw some dirt over it to "Hide" it?
Or dig down all around the outside and pour a few bags of cement and spray it with the hose....I did that one on of my coops...
Stopped all diggers so far (2 yrs)