Is it possible.....

[bheila]

Is it possible to ever completely get rid of lice on my chickens? Why do some have lice and others have no visible signs at all. I bought a 50lb bag of DE and have been putting it in the dirt that the chickens like to dust in. I have even dusted all of them a few times. I've done this for about 2 months. I also dust their coop and nest boxes with it. Is there an easier or better way to dust 80-90 chickens and ducks. It can be very hard at times when I have no one to help me catch all of them. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[cjeanean]

DE, from what I've read, is more of a preventative than a treatment. Tea Tree oil is also a preventative, but I've also read people using it to treat. You need a bottle of tea tree oil and a spray bottle. Mix about 2 capfuls or so of TT oil into a spray bottle of water, shake well, and start spraying. I've also heard of people mixing oregano oil in with it, too. You have to keep shaking the bottle as you spray, since it's oil and doesn't dilute in water. Spray around their vents and under their wings. The bugs can't stand how potent that stuff is, and I actually think it *may* be toxic to them if they bite skin that is coated in it. I'm not sure, don't quote me on that. You can also spray it on the litter. Maybe it's something about the smell, cause that stuff is really strong!\\

You may want to get a commercial lice treatment for them, and treat them and the bedding. Then use the TT oil as a preventative along with DE. I don't know how badly they have it!

 

[cherrychicken]

yah

 

[bheila]

My husband did buy me a can of poultry dust, I just haven't used it yet because I thought that it wouldn't be enough for all of them. I also wasn't sure if we could still use the eggs if I put that stuff on them. Of coarse I can't remember the name of it or what was in it. I do know that it didn't say anything about eggs on it.

 

[cjeanean]

Post the name and we'll see if anyone here has used it!