Crap, How do I get rid of lice??????

[Farmin Momma]

Ok, so I go into the hospital for a few days and then on bed rest for 2 weeks and I come out of this and now my chickens have fricking LICE!

I am so ******.

So please tell me what is the best way to get rid of these stupid things? Also can people get lice from chickens? Please say no, Please say no

Thanks

 

[Fred's Hens]

I've not heard of fowl and humans sharing the same lice as species differ.

As for a treatment, many folks dust them with Seven, while other prefer a slightly more "friendly" treatment using permethins. Garden Dust, plain and simple.

 

[RedDrgn]

No, poultry lice won't survive on humans and human lice won't survive on poultry. So no worries there. I was also as ****** as you when I found lice on my birds a few weeks ago. Fortunately, treatment is simple.

Use either Seven (my choice) or Poultry dust. Wear long sleeves, gloves, and a dust mask when you do it and be sure to keep it away from the chicken's face. Turn them upside down (they won't like it, but will quickly give up the fuss and lay limply) and dust their bottoms (around their vents and bellies), under their wings (at the pits), the back of their heads/necks, and on their backs.

Work the dust into their feathers and down onto their skin as you go. Then release. In 7-10 days, repeat. Check them thoroughly in another 7-10 days and reapply if you find anything, but you really shouldn't need to.

 

[terryg]

Almost all chickens get lice at one time or another. Poultry lice aren't interested in people. The eat the detritus from feathers and a bit of skin. They're soft creatures, and so a healthy bird can easily control them by dust-bathing. The dirt punctures the lice and desiccates them. Food-grade DE in dust bathing areas helps. If your chickens have lice, it's often a sign that they are ill, and so aren't dust-bathing, or that their housing is damp. Only in the worst cases do you need to use chemicals. I have more about lice here: http://www.hencam.com/henblog/2010/05/of-lice-and-hens/

 

[Farmin Momma]

Almost all chickens get lice at one time or another. Poultry lice aren't interested in people. The eat the detritus from feathers and a bit of skin. They're soft creatures, and so a healthy bird can easily control them by dust-bathing. The dirt punctures the lice and desiccates them. Food-grade DE in dust bathing areas helps. If your chickens have lice, it's often a sign that they are ill, and so aren't dust-bathing, or that their housing is damp. Only in the worst cases do you need to use chemicals. I have more about lice here: http://www.hencam.com/henblog/2010/05/of-lice-and-hens/

Well this makes sense, because the hen that I found it on is the one BO that is dieing from possible Mareks. I have not checked anyone elts yet, I just assumed that if one had it they all had it.

With any of these treatments do I need to throw away the eggs for a while or anything like that? Also what is the youngest age that these are ok to use on? I have 9 week old chicks that are not "in" with the flock but in the same building also week old chicks again in the same building just caged away from everyone elts.

 

[RedDrgn]

There is a supposedly a recommended 7 day egg withdrawal period if you use Sevin and none if you use Poultry Dust. Since both are approved for use on food plants, I don't worry too much about it and just wash off the eggs during the withdrawal period and use them anyway. However, I don't share/sell those eggs (in case someone else would have an allergy or something).

I've read of people using both treatments on few day old chicks, so you should be fine at 9 weeks.

 

[Farmin Momma]

Great to know, thanks!

 

[farmgirl63]

what is DE dust?

 

[kittykittykitty]

what is DE dust?

Diatomaceous Earth. You can buy it at any farm supply store. It worked for me. My patio used to be covered in mites... and it got rid of them all =)

"They" say that it is so fine that it cuts the mites and kills them o_0
idk if it's true but it seems awesome to me!

 

[Barn Mama]

Cool!!! Thanks for the tip as well......I too have a bird that I thought only had scaby leg mites, so I have been treating her for that. so today when I was soaking her feet I noticed her vent was raw, and then I seen it a friggin lice, so I called our local feed store and with new regulations we can not purchase lice powder OTC, but I think I do have sevin.