Chicken with lice

[Rocky200]

I don’t think it’s an emergency but I noticed one of my chickens looking hunched up and sleepy and on closer inspection I saw a few adult lice, like about 5 of them. I will be doing a diotomaceous earth treatment but generally speaking she seems a little unwell, not as alert and appears a bit underweight, what else should I check for? Her eyes and comb look normal colour. Not sure how to check the crop is empty/full. She did have some food and water and is standing on her own. It’s the middle of winter here. I have quarantined her and am monitoring her. So my question is, is it absolutely necessary to remove all the shavings to treat the coop? Would providing a dust bath with DE Suffice for the remainder of the flock at least until spring? I dont have a space to move them while I treat the coop, but if I must I could borrow some crates/cages. Should I be using something stronger than DE? Internet recommends other products but I’d like to hear other opinions from people who have knowledge here. THANKS.

 

[Eggcessive]

DE will not kill the lice. You will probably need permethrin garden dust or spray. You can buy ready made spray, or buy a small 8 ounce bottle of permethrin 10 concentrate that mixes with water for a spray bottle or garden sprayer. You will find both the garden dust or the liquids at TSC and other feed stores. Lice need to be treated every 7 days until all eggs and lice are gone. The coop, nests, and roosts should be treated, and bedding replaced. The other chickens will have them as well.

Edited to say that lice should be treated every 10 days at least 2-3 times, while mites need to be treated every 5 days.

 

[ChickNanny13]

2x DE is a helpful preventative but you need permethrin to kill them critters

 

[Eggcessive]

Here are some good articles about lice and mites and treatments:
https://anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8162.pdf

https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

I’ve had a lot of luck with Ivermectin pour on.

 

[Kiki]

Are you in the US?

If so get Permethrin before the lice kill her. Treat everyone and the coop weekly for three weeks.

Screen Shot 2019-07-03 At 2.58.28 PM

• Kiki
• Jul 3, 2019

IMG_20180924_091915

• Kiki
• Sep 24, 2018

Permethrin Concentrate, Martin's on Left - Durvet on right

• Kiki
• Jul 28, 2018
• 2

 

[Rocky200]

Thankyou all for the info ! Darn lice, I will look right away for a product at the feed store. Kiki, I am in Canada but I know I’ve seen permethrin products around before hopefully they have something that works. Thankyou

 

[Kiki]

Thankyou all for the info ! Darn lice, I will look right away for a product at the feed store. Kiki, I am in Canada but I know I’ve seen permethrin products around before hopefully they have something that works. Thankyou

Shoot...I don't think you can buy it over the counter up there.
You might have to get it from a vet.

 

[DottieMinerva]

Will lice cause the hunching and sleepiness? My hen is doing the same thing and she has lice. She has good color and is healthy physically.

 

[aart]

Not sure how to check the crop is empty/full.

Pull all feed and water after dark, check crop.
Before giving feed/water in morning, check crop again it should be empty.
Then you can check overnight poops too.
I like to use a crate with small mesh inserted and tray underneath crate.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...rates-a-good-tool-for-every-chickeneer.72619/

Such a bummer you can't get permethrin dust, it's the best for cold weather treatment of mites and lice. DE will do little to nothing.
I haven't seen lice cause lethargy, they don't suck blood like mites do....but still not good. They mostly stay on bird so treating bedding not critical like with roost mites.