Coop and chickens infested with lice, pretty badly, need a little help.

[MelissaRose]

Is the Permethrin dust toxic to any animals or insects? what is the difference between that and the DE?

 

[PirateGirl]

Is the Permethrin dust toxic to any animals or insects? what is the difference between that and the DE?

The difference is the active ingredient which is permethrin which is a pesticide that actually kills mites/lice/other insects.

Dust bathing with DE or any other dust bath material helps the bird keep their feather clean and in good shape but does not actually kill anything.

 

[PirateGirl]

Again permethrin dust or spray will be toxic to cats. That's about it. Keep your cats out of the coop/barn and change/wash your clothes immediately following your coop clean and treatment and you will be fine!

 

[Eggcessive]

I have cats who sometimes come around my coop, and have never had a problem using permethrin to treat the actual coop or walls. But of course, you don’t want them in there before it dries. Permethrin is one of the safest insecticides for chickens and birds. The only caution is if you raise bees, they shouldn’t be near your coop. DE can be dangerous for or your chickens to breathe, and it won’t treat an outrbeak. Ivermectin Pour-on will also treat lice or mites quickly on the chickens, and dosage is 0.1 ml per every 2 pounds of weight. Put it along the skin of backbone at the top of the neck. Using a syringe without a needle is very easy. Repeat in 14 days.