Dusted for Lice now it's even worse! HELP!!!

[mrbstephens]

I dusted with permethrin Poultry dust two days ago after noticing my hen's feathers look like they're being eaten away and now, two days later it looks even worse. I thoroughly cleaned out the hen house and dust there too. What's the deal? Does it just take a few days to work?

 

[mrbstephens]

 

[ChickenWisperer]

Her feathers look worse? It will take a good amount of time for the feathers to look better - untill they moult actually.

 

[Cochin378]

One of the easiest and most pain free ways to get rid of lice on chickens is to bathe the chicken in cat flea and lice shampoo. A couple days after that put one drop of cat one spot underneath the hackle feathers on the neck. This will protect them against lice for at least the next two months. Hopefully this helps you. If you want more information you can pm me.

 

[Lollipop]

Never used permethrin, b. If you have what you consider an infestation, here`s what to do. Get some Adams Flea and Tick Dip and mix as directed in warm water in a 5 galon bucket. Dip all your birds up to the top of their necks. Mix another batch and spray everything the birds come in contact with. No need to repeat in 10 days as with other methods. You can smell it for a month, so you know it`s working. I don`t have any confidence in anything except Sevin Dust (for light treatments) and Adams for infestations. Go gett`em and good luck.........Pop

 

[calicokat]

Quote:
Thanks for the info - I thought our outbreak was done, but found some more lice on another bird after treating a month ago and changing out all the bedding, etc. UGH!

My question, my birds seem to have it in their muffs and chin area, when I dip them, do I want to swish them a little and try to get that water mix all under the feathers and on their skin?

 

[mrbstephens]

It finally stopped raining and I was able to get a better look. When I part the feathers I see the dust is still present on the skin, but more feathers are broken off and/or missing. I never did see any actual bugs or eggs just a lot of broken, damaged or missing feathers. I should add that I only see this on the 4 older hens who are about 18 months old. My 6 pullets that now live with them look fine. Egg production has also slowed and one of the hens has completely stopped laying. I haven't seen any feather picking, but I'm not ruling it out, because I did see one of the hens with the most damage also has a small scab on a bald spot which could have been from herself scratching or biting or another hen pecking or from buggies. I just don't know........ Also, is it possible that the hens are stressed due to the addition of the 6 pullets?

 

[GAchick]

Is it possible that the older hens are just molting?

 

[mrbstephens]

Quote:
I think so, but mostly the feathers are broken off or damaged. Would hens break their own feathers to help with the molting?

 

[rcentner]

2 things IMHO:

I would say they are molting...tis the season.
You will need to treat for the lice every 2 weeks...Ivermectin works really well, I use the injectable as a spot on treatment and those suckers are dead within 2 days. But you must dust the roosts and runs as well as the birds. The birds will have eggs on their feathers until they molt out and that is why the continual treatment is necessary.

I have 2 hens and 2 roos that are molting right now, looks bad. I was worried as well since I had a lice infestation as well. They are all treated and doing great, but look terrible due to the molting. Give them extra protein, if you can, while they are molting as it's supposed to help them while they are growing new feathers.