Freaking feather lice!

[June Chick]

alright, I’ve been treating my small flock (9) for about 5 weeks with poultry and garden powder for stupid feather lice.

Is there anything (not ridiculously expensive) that I can buy and bathe them in that will kill all the lice AND the freaking eggs?? I’m so tired of having to do this every week only to find more the next week.

I have a huge fear of bugs and doing this always makes me want to vomit and douse myself in soap and water, so if there’s a different way I can do this, please tell me!

 

[Chick-N-Fun]

I have never had to use it, but I have heard powdering your birds and coop with SEVEN is effective for getting rid of lice.
Sorry you are dealing with this issue....
Good luck!

 

[sylviethecochin]

Sevin is generally regarded as a very harsh last resort.

Permethrin spray is what is generally recommended when treating lice. You can get a concentrate $10.00 for a cup. It makes quite a few gallons.

Can you get your hands on 1% ivermectin? In the US, you can find it for $25/50 mL from Lambert pet supply. To treat with Ivermectin, apply a few drops behind the neck of every bird, and then just leave it sit. Reapply in about a week.

 

[MandaH]

I have had good results dusting with Sevin. Some people add DE to their dust bath area. Do your girls have an area of light sand for dust bathing? The sand also helps with lice as it creates more of an abrasiveness to their skin

 

[June Chick]

I have had good results dusting with Sevin. Some people add DE to their dust bath area. Do your girls have an area of light sand for dust bathing? The sand also helps with lice as it creates more of an abrasiveness to their skin

I’ve been using Poultry and Garden Powder which is basically permethrin, but it doesn’t kill the eggs.
My entire run is dirt, but I’m going to be adding a small box of wood ash for dust bathing (supposedly it helps in killing the dang things).

Sevin is generally regarded as a very harsh last resort.

Permethrin spray is what is generally recommended when treating lice. You can get a concentrate $10.00 for a cup. It makes quite a few gallons.

Can you get your hands on 1% ivermectin? In the US, you can find it for $25/50 mL from Lambert pet supply. To treat with Ivermectin, apply a few drops behind the neck of every bird, and then just leave it sit. Reapply in about a week.

Someone told me Ivermectin is harsh on chickens as it was made for cattle and swine, so I’ve been avoiding it.

 

[sylviethecochin]

I’ve been using Poultry and Garden Powder which is basically permethrin, but it doesn’t kill the eggs.
My entire run is dirt, but I’m going to be adding a small box of wood ash for dust bathing (supposedly it helps in killing the dang things).


Someone told me Ivermectin is harsh on chickens as it was made for cattle and swine, so I’ve been avoiding it.

Permethrin powder isn't very effective (EDT: For me, at least. I don't know if I don't use enough or it's falling off, or what). I do better with the spray. It does break down quickly, so it needs to be used often. You also need to clean out your coop to kill any adult bugs that have fallen off of the hens and are living in the nesting boxes, for instance.

Wood ash does seem to help, but it's an irritant, so use it outside, yeah.

Ivermectin is harsh. That's why you only use 1%. It's commonly used on pet-type birds (budgies, cockatiels, etc.) (I've used Sevin myself, for a poor broody whose nest was infected. But I try not to use it often.)

Hartz used to sell a permethrin and s-methoprene spray (EDT: S-methoprene prevents eggs from hatching), which was very effective, and safe for chickens. However, either they've switched ingredients, or Walmart doesn't carry that kind anymore, because what I've found since was some other pesticide that I can't find any references for using on chickens.

 

[Ms Biddy]

Elector PSP should do it but you need to clean the coop thoroughly too. Retreating in 10 days is optimal, but I've been told by some people that only 1 treatment was needed for them. There is no egg withdrawal.

Sevin is not approved for use on poultry and technically the egg withdrawal period is lifelong. I wish people would stop recommending it.

ETA: Approved and Unapproved Pesticides

 

[June Chick]

Permethrin powder isn't very effective (EDT: For me, at least. I don't know if I don't use enough or it's falling off, or what). I do better with the spray. It does break down quickly, so it needs to be used often. You also need to clean out your coop to kill any adult bugs that have fallen off of the hens and are living in the nesting boxes, for instance.

Wood ash does seem to help, but it's an irritant, so use it outside, yeah.

Ivermectin is harsh. That's why you only use 1%. It's commonly used on pet-type birds (budgies, cockatiels, etc.) (I've used Sevin myself, for a poor broody whose nest was infected. But I try not to use it often.)

Hartz used to sell a permethrin and s-methoprene spray (EDT: S-methoprene prevents eggs from hatching), which was very effective, and safe for chickens. However, either they've switched ingredients, or Walmart doesn't carry that kind anymore, because what I've found since was some other pesticide that I can't find any references for using on chickens.

Specifically, what kind of 1% ivermectin? Topical? Injectable?
If you could, would you give me a link?

EDIT: Also, specifically what permethrin spray? I’m on a budget and don’t want to get the wrong stuff.

 

[sylviethecochin]

Specifically, what kind of 1% ivermectin? Topical? Injectable?

Topical. https://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail...itemguid=71e37ba3-fef2-42c8-9595-c8743d339ccb Note that it is not labelled for use on chickens, so this would be an off-label use.

EDT: You can just pick up permethrin from TSC. https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/gordons-permethrin-10-livestock-and-premise-spray-8-oz

 

[Geena]

Hartz used to sell a permethrin and s-methoprene spray (EDT: S-methoprene prevents eggs from hatching), which was very effective, and safe for chickens. However, either they've switched ingredients, or Walmart doesn't carry that kind anymore, because what I've found since was some other pesticide that I can't find any references for using on chickens.

I've seen some recommendations on here for using Adams Flea and Tick Spray, it contains S-methoprene.