I need help with LICE.

[chickenjane82]

I handle my hens a lot, I haven't ever noticed lice.
Today I caught up a rooster to take to someone and noticed lice eggs on him.

Of course I had to cancel our meeting, and now I'm left treating everyone.
If one has it, they all have it even without seeing it right????

Do the eggs fall off after they are treated? Or do I get the awesome job of sifting through and snipping them out?


Whats the quickest most effective treatment plan?

 

[Judy]

Sevin 5% garden dust kills the bugs but not the eggs. You just wait 10 days til they hatch then dust again. And clean the coop, replace litter.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/473518/rooster-not-normal#post_6006304

 

[honeybeerose]

You can also use UltraShield horse spray. You can find this at any farm supply store. This kills the live lice within an hour, and also kills the eggs. It is safe for your chickens, but costs a bit more than the dust. Spray the "hot zones", under the wings, the vent, back of the neck. If the lice is really bad, spray all over, making sure to get down to the skin. If the feathers have large clumps of lice eggs on them, you may want to cut them. I would also still clean the coop, and if you can use the spray on the ground and nesting boxes afterwards, i would do so. I also advise giving the chickens all a bath a day after the treatment to get rid of the dead lice.