Eye lice

[NatureGirl74]

I found eye lice on my pullet. It looks like she has it pretty bad. I have permethrin dust. I'm going to check all the other birds and clean out the coop. How should I put on the dust without getting it in her eyes?

 

[BirdsBeesTrees]

Well that's a good question...

 

[Shadrach]

I found eye lice on my pullet. It looks like she has it pretty bad. I have permethrin dust. I'm going to check all the other birds and clean out the coop. How should I put on the dust without getting it in her eyes?

Firstly, are you sure the lice are living in her eye?
You may find on careful inspection that they are living in her ear and just moving to her eye as they wander about.
You can't put the dust near her eye as you realise. Can you get permethrin liquid instead? This would seem the easiest solution.
Failing that, you can make a paste/liquid with the dust and ver carefully paint the paste on the feathers surrounding her eye. I've done this with a mite dust with good effect in the past but it does take a few applications to get all the lice.
A further option is to use Ivermectin drops if you can get them. Ivermectin does still work on lice and mites in most cases I believe.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Are they lice or fleas?
Same treatment would apply.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...tight-fleas-in-poultry-with-permethrin.74325/

 

[NatureGirl74]

Firstly, are you sure the lice are living in her eye?
You may find on careful inspection that they are living in her ear and just moving to her eye as they wander about.
You can't put the dust near her eye as you realise. Can you get permethrin liquid instead? This would seem the easiest solution.
Failing that, you can make a paste/liquid with the dust and ver carefully paint the paste on the feathers surrounding her eye. I've done this with a mite dust with good effect in the past but it does take a few applications to get all the lice.
A further option is to use Ivermectin drops if you can get them. Ivermectin does still work on lice and mites in most cases I believe.

Thank you, I'll try a paste.

Are they lice or fleas?
Same treatment would apply.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...tight-fleas-in-poultry-with-permethrin.74325/

I saw tiny white bugs all over her face. I'll try to get pictures soon. Some bugs were touching the eye and others were just running all over her face in and out of the feathers.

 

[NatureGirl74]

@Shadrach @Wyorp Rock
I checked her again. The lice aren't on her face anymore, their crawling on the back of her head in all her feathers. I don't see nits, but I can barely see the bugs.

 

[cmom]

Are they lice or fleas?
Same treatment would apply.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...tight-fleas-in-poultry-with-permethrin.74325/

I agree. Spray her with permethrin spray. It will take 3 or 4 weekly treatments because it does not kill the pests eggs but will as they hatch out so weekly repeated treatments are necessary. I also use poultry dust in the nest boxes. Good luck...

 

[Wyorp Rock]

@Shadrach @Wyorp Rock
I checked her again. The lice aren't on her face anymore, their crawling on the back of her head in all her feathers. I don't see nits, but I can barely see the bugs.

I would use permethrin spray on her, you can always put some on a cotton ball or qtip and carefully swab it around/on her face and then use one of those to target the back of her head as well. Make sure your getting it worked in.

Personally, I prefer dusting birds since I can work the dust into the feathers better, I do put it on there head and neck too, but I put the dust in a sock so I can control the dust a little better.

 

[casportpony]

I think they drink from the eyes.

Like everyone else suggested, treat with permethrin dust or spray. When I dust their heads I apply the powder with my fingers and avoid the eyes.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I think they drink from the eyes.
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I bet you are right. Ewww