How to treat lice/mites?

[T-R-O-U-B-L-E]

Well, don't kick it then. It's perfect. Any dirt will do. I bet three chickens can party in that at once.

True enough! The oh so helpful lady at my feed store said to fond some fine dirt that is like dust. Im not sure. I hope 2 can comfortably fit. My hand is pretty small.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Tub looks good!

 

[Dhkoenig]

I believe my flock of 4 Cochin Bantams has a mild case of lice or mites. The insects in question are white - clear and visible, but small. About the size of the dull end of a needle. I bought Hi-Yield powder from my feed store. I also have Diotamatious Earth somewhere, but I dont really want to use it. The Hi Yield can be used on poultry, but it says 1 pound per 100 birds. I have a four pound bag and only 4 birds. I also cant let it touch my skin. It just makes me nervous to use. I dont have a desinated dust bathing area as my coop is a small tractor that we move. I do have Permithrin. Would that help? If so how much do I mix with, say a gallon? So that is safe to put on the birds. I have more birds sitting close by that dont appear to have lice. Yet. I plan on giving them a bath, wiping down the roost, and giving my coop fresh hay. What do you guys do? How to you prevent mites and lice? How do you get rid of them? I want to nip this problem in the bud.

Links:
The insecticide powder
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Hi-Yield...st-Dust-Insect-Killer-4-lb-Case-Of-1/37864047

Tags:
@azygous
@Wyorp Rock
@aart
@TheOddOneOut
@The-White-Elephant

I know this is an old post but if you have the tractor run and no place to dust bath - we have a bigger run but still in the winter I fill up a large kitty letter box (we have two) with topsoil (not with chemicals! just soil) mixed with D/E or "Dust Bath" (a product I bought that basically is DE LOL) and they use it to dust bathe.

 

[Dhkoenig]

I believe I have poultry lice.

I have liquid. I will look for Elector.

How should I do a dustbath in a way that I can move? I have a wire bottom for predator protection. Here is a pic of my coop.
View attachment 3149996
I know they need a dustbath, they have been fine without. I have thought about ways though. I thought about a turtle sandbox and put sand in it. I feel like it would be too big. Would it be fine though? Will they poop in it? What do you suggest to put IN a dust bath?
Turtle sandbox:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Little-T...oGMb9L9RABHJpf457DEaApA7EALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Maybe I could do a small inflatable pool.

the kitty litter boxes I got at Petco (or one of those types of stores - I forget!) is rounded, one side is higher than the other and it is really large. Two hens will be IN it at once but not big enough for them both to really get in to the dirt bathing because they have to really move around a bit. So we got two and they love them in winter.