HELP - Bird Lice

[Rorporp23]

My birds have never had lice that bad before ( not that I've noticed) but recently I notice one of my birds getting sick. I took a closer look at her today and she has LICE. yuck! And the poor girly isn't looking too good I'm changing out my flock in a few months so I have a few questions.
How can I treat her (and the rest of my birds) for lice now? And how can I deep clean my coop to destroy all traces of the bugs? Are there any things I should do specifically? And how can I prevent lice in the future? Please help!

 

[WestminsterHens]

If the lice is on their feet you should dip their feet into vegetable oil ,twice a day for a couple weeks!

 

[Rorporp23]

Not on their feet, in their feathers. I am also hatching some chicks in a few weeks and I would like to have the lice taken care of by then

 

[frogys]

I am having a problem with lice for the first time too. I was told by a reliable source and I have read online that you can use Ivermectin. About 5-6 drops on the back of the chickens neck (depending on size of bird - less for smaller or younger birds). This will take care of lice/mites and internal parasites as well. I am waiting for the local feed store to get some back in stock. BUT I do not know how that would affect the peeps.

Lice & mites live in cracks & crevaces in wood. Go out to their coop at night with a flashlight and see if you can see anything crawling around the roost and/or the chickens legs and vent area. I am going to use Manna Pro Poultry Protector in the coop after a thorough cleaning. Some say you can use Sevin Dust in the coop and on the birds (but not their heads).

 

[casportpony]

Not on their feet, in their feathers. I am also hatching some chicks in a few weeks and I would like to have the lice taken care of by then

Feather lice... Dust with poultry dust, spray coop and perches.

 

[casportpony]

I am having a problem with lice for the first time too. I was told by a reliable source and I have read online that you can use Ivermectin. About 5-6 drops on the back of the chickens neck (depending on size of bird - less for smaller or younger birds). This will take care of lice/mites and internal parasites as well. I am waiting for the local feed store to get some back in stock. BUT I do not know how that would affect the peeps.

Lice & mites live in cracks & crevaces in wood. Go out to their coop at night with a flashlight and see if you can see anything crawling around the roost and/or the chickens legs and vent area. I am going to use Manna Pro Poultry Protector in the coop after a thorough cleaning. Some say you can use Sevin Dust in the coop and on the birds (but not their heads).

Welcome to BYC! Ivermectin will not kill feather lice, I tried!

 

[casportpony]

If the lice is on their feet you should dip their feet into vegetable oil ,twice a day for a couple weeks!

Those would be scaly leg mites, not lice.

 

[dawg53]

Quote: Agreed. Chicken lice dont suck blood. Ivermectin is about useless as a wormer in chickens as well, it will kill mites though. Sevin dust will kill lice/mites. Redust birds again in 7-10 days, inside the coop and nests as well.

 

[frogys]

Thanks for the welcome!

I don't like to use chemicals unless I absolutley have to! I bought Sevin Dust but I am hesitant to use it. Guess I don't have a choice.

 

[dawg53]

Thanks for the welcome!

I don't like to use chemicals unless I absolutley have to! I bought Sevin Dust but I am hesitant to use it. Guess I don't have a choice.

No one likes using chemicals. Down south here where our environment is humid, the soil is moist and warm most of the year (worm soup)...chemicals are a necessity to keep internal and external parasites at bay.