Help. How do I know if my chickens have lice or mites?

[Lollipop]

Lots of folks swear by DE, but I have yet to see any proof that it helps, either as a cure or preventative for lice/mites. I`ve used Sevin dust for at least 50 years and it`s safe, even for dusting broodies with chicks. At times, in my illustrious chicken career, I have had infestations of the little blood suckers. The best thing I`ve ever seen for infestations is Adams Flea And Tick Dip. Mix as directed for dogs and dip the whole bird in it up to it`s neck. Swish it around a little and set it out in the sun to dry in a small wire inclosure placed on a tarp. Mix a little more and spray the coop, nests and roosts. You can still smell it after a month, so it`s sytil working good enough to get the hatchlings. I know you said chemicals are a problem, but sometimes(infestations) you just have to deal with it, or find someone who can.

To determine if lice/mites are present, pick a couple off the roost at night. Use a good flashlight and check the areas around the vent and under the tail. They are small, but you can see them in these areas with a good light. If one has them, they all do. Good luck..........Pop

 

[mariam]

Thanks Lollipop. I went out early this morning to look again and I still don't see anything so I'm thinking maybe it has just been a hard winter and some of them are worse for the wear. I only had chickens for a 4 years and I've never had any bug problems so this is all new to me. Thanks for the tip about Sevin. Is it say to eat the eggs?

 

[NanaJune]

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Thanks so much! I am going to wait and hear what you find out about the Poultry Protector. I have been putting in the 1/4 cup of Apple Cider Vinegar, and mine all "flock" to it! They love it. They do look better. And like you, I can't find anything that looks alive on them at all. I am going to continue with the ACV and DE as well. But I may get some of the Poultry Protector when you find out what is in it. Thanks, again.

 

[Lollipop]

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You`re welcome, mariam. You could be right about the harsh winter, but if they don`t have lice, I think I would be looking at their diet. Is it possible that they are eating each others feathers and in need of more protein? Layers should have in the neighborhood of 20% protein. If you need to add protein to their diet, a few morsels of cheap dry catfood per bird, a couple times a week will help. Hope their looks improve. Yes, you can still eat the eggs when using Sevin Dust..........Pop

 

[NanaJune]

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You`re welcome, mariam. You could be right about the harsh winter, but if they don`t have lice, I think I would be looking at their diet. Is it possible that they are eating each others feathers and in need of more protein? Layers should have in the neighborhood of 20% protein. If you need to add protein to their diet, a few morsels of cheap dry catfood per bird, a couple times a week will help. Hope their looks improve. Yes, you can still eat the eggs when using Sevin Dust..........Pop

Well, I checked one of my girls around her vent early this morning, and SURE ENOUGH! Little bugs went crawling everywhere - straw colored, fast little buggers! I had separated her from the rest because she got attacked by a hawk last week and was in the mending pen. Her feathers looked the worst of all of the others, but I assumed it was from the hawk attack. The other girls that I have been dusting with DE and giving the Apple Cider Vinegar to actually look much better this week. However, there are little eggs in their feathers still. I did not see any lice on them when I checked them, though. It was a little later in the morning when I checked them, however.

My husband is making bigger dusting boxes filled with DE as I type. However, on the Sevin Dust, I'm thinking that my husband could dust them with that and their boxes, etc., and I just will stay away from them and their coop for a few days. I don't know if Sevin Dust will bother me or not. But when I say I have an allergy - I stop breathing, not just break out or something. I have been hospitalized many times from walking into the grocery store or WalMart and they had sprayed and I hit the floor! So, needless to say, I am afraid to take a chance on having a reaction to anything! We live out of town, and the nearest hospital is about 25 minutes away.

If we use the Sevin dust, would one application be enough you think? Or would it be necessary for multiple applications? I wonder how long I would need to stay away from them?

 

[Lollipop]

Nana, I dust twice, at 11 day intervals. The eggs hatch in 10-11 days and ya wanna kill the little ones. My method of dusting is using a cheese shaker like in Italian restaurants, hold the chicken upside down by the legs and shake Sevin under wings, tail, and everywhere. Kinda fluff`m with your hand to get good penetration. Been workin good for years. If you have that kinda problem with chemicals, I wouldn`t take a chance, although it has proven safe for broody hens with chicks. Just not worth chancing it. I would think 3-4 days after dusting would be safe to be around them, just don`t handle the birds for a week or so.......Pop

 

[NanaJune]

Thanks so much for all of your help, Lollipop. I really do appreciate it. My husband will do the dusting, and I will just stay away for a while. Man, this is gonna be harder than staying away from ice cream - I am chicken-addicted!

 

[EweSheep]

I've used DE but it was useless when I had mites and lice this year so I had to resort using Sevin dust. Dusted for the second time when I saw the dying chick with white bugs on them URRRRGH! I've never seen them on the girls but I dusted everything in the pen, coop roost and some on the girls. I know the wild birds have been coming and going....could the wild birds bringing them in???????

 

[Lollipop]

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Definately wild birds. Squirrels will also and I`m sure other critters that frequent coops and pens, like mice and rats. If you have trouble with an infestation, check out post #11 where I made a recommendation for Adams Flea and Tick Dip. It works..........Pop

 

[EweSheep]

Yeah we had problems with sewer rats last year. This year was the first time I've ever had lice/mites but last year I had problems with leg mites. The Sevin Dust really took care of the leg mites but will give it some time for the body of it. I stripped out the coop tonight until rubber mats and when I will have another warm day, I will spray with that Adams stuff. I thought Adams kill dogs and cats because of the active chemical and thought it would not be safe for chickens either because they are much more sensitive than a cat.

Darn grackles, darn house finches, darn starlings (LOTS of them) and darn squirrels and darn rats. Now what else LOL! Darn them all! Yeah most of the neighbors got bird feeders!