Help! Chicks have lice!

[HorseGirlAbby]

My two-week old baby chicks have been scratching a lot, and I noticed a bug crawling on one of them. I looked closer and found it was a louse. I'm pretty sure they're all infected. They hatched under a broody hen, and she obviously spread it to them. Is there anything I can do? I've read that lice can kill chicks. I have some food-grade diatomaceous earth that I've been using to treat the hen's lice. Is it okay if I use that on the chicks as well? Any help appreciated!

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I personally would simply use Poultry Dust permethrin (based from chrysanthemums).

I'm not not a fan of DE as it is a known lung irritant for man and especially birds, especially little chicks.

You can dust mom well, and if the chicks are still running through her feathers, that should dust them. If there is a heavy infestation, then you would need to dust each chick being careful not to get too much into their lungs.

LofMc

 

[Cluckatar]

I'm having the same problem right now We have a broody mama hen who we gave two chicks to adopt about two weeks ago. This weekend we found one of them fully infested, the hen also. I've been checking the flock and they have some, although not nearly as bad. So I'm gearing up to treat the whole group. I HATE that I'm putting a poison on our laying hens and these tiny babies, but I don't know how else to proceed. The infested chick is doing okay but is not really thriving like the other (who has lice also, but not nearly as many).

So I ordered Pen & Poultry
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LVWREWJ?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2_dt_b_product_details

I haven't used this before, but after watching videos we put on gloves, masks and goggles (way too much, I know!) and sprayed broody and two chicks under wings and straight at the vent area.

The plan is to move on to the rest of the flock on the weekend. I really hope we haven't messed up, and that they are all fine. They did NOT enjoy this.

 

[HorseGirlAbby]

I've been treating our hen and chicks with permethrin dust, like @Lady of McCamley suggested, and it's been working well. They have fewer lice now, and seem happier. The only thing I would be careful about is that the chicks don't chill, because they're pretty tiny at that age. Good luck, and thank you for replying!

 

[krissyweso]

I just had this same problem. I dusted the babies last night, and it looks like it worked. Should I bathe them this morning to get the remaining dust off?

 

[krissyweso]

I've been treating our hen and chicks with permethrin dust, like @Lady of McCamley suggested, and it's been working well. They have fewer lice now, and seem happier. The only thing I would be careful about is that the chicks don't chill, because they're pretty tiny at that age. Good luck, and thank you for replying!

What do you mean by making sure the chicks don't chill?

 

[Chickassan]

Just keep them warm.

That's what was ment, just don't want them getting cold.

What do you mean by making sure the chicks don't chill?

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I just had this same problem. I dusted the babies last night, and it looks like it worked. Should I bathe them this morning to get the remaining dust off?

No. Don't remove the dust as that is what kills the lice. It'll gradually shake off.

LofMc