Is This Lice?

[NatureGirl74]

If the infestation is not too bad yet, you might get away with only powdering him once. Do you have someone to help you hold the bird? You’ll need to get the powder under his wings, fluffed deep into his feathers, under his tail, etc…

I prefer to both dust the bird and spray the coop.

I cleaned out the coop this morning and didn't see anything. I haven't seen any bugs or nits on the others. I haven't even seen nits on this one. Getting the powder down in his feathers shouldn't be too hard. He's a turken. Not too many feathers . My sisters can hold him. Thanks

 

[room onthebroom]

I cleaned out the coop this morning and didn't see anything. I haven't seen any bugs or nits on the others. I haven't even seen nits on this one. Getting the powder down in his feathers shouldn't be too hard. He's a turken. Not too many feathers . My sisters can hold him. Thanks

Good luck! You’ve got this!

 

[21hens-incharge]

If I can get the powder do I need to put it on them more than once? Is it possible the others weren't affected and only the one got it? I know if they were in the same pen they would all have it, but since he's never around them could that be different?

I would treat every 7-10 days for three treatments.

Those eggs are tiny and hard to see when it's just a few. It only takes a few to become MANY though.

I have found birds much easier to handle in the dark using just a dim light so I can just see well enough to treat them.

I know you are dealing with lice but it is good to know how to handle mites as well.
Some mites live ON the birds but most hide in cracks in the coop only coming out at night to feed. That is the why of treating the coop as well as the birds.

If you wait til an hour after dark and run a white paper towel along the bottom of the roost you may find you have the kind that hides in cracks. Smears of grey are mites that haven't fed yet. Smears of red are ones that have.

I find the Permethrin 10 concentrate easiest to use for both birds and coop. It has instructions on mixing for poultry. It works to kill both lice and mites.

 

[NatureGirl74]

I would treat every 7-10 days for three treatments.

Do I need to get his whole self? Should I treat the others too?

If you wait til an hour after dark and run a white paper towel along the bottom of the roost you may find you have the kind that hides in cracks. Smears of grey are mites that haven't fed yet. Smears of red are ones that have.

I'll try that tonight.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Do I need to get his whole self? Should I treat the others too?

I'll try that tonight.

I use the spray so it may be different for the powder.

I spray around the vent, under the wings, base of the neck and between their legs on the belly. I make sure to part the feathers so I get the spray on the skin.

As with any treatment avoid getting it in their eyes and nose. A cloth loosely wrapped around the head can help prevent that.

I would treat everyone.

@casportpony may have more advice on using the powder.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Oh...and...if using a powder cover YOUR (and anyone helpings) nose and mouth.

No need to inhale it yourself.

 

[Kiki]

If I can get the powder do I need to put it on them more than once? Is it possible the others weren't affected and only the one got it? I know if they were in the same pen they would all have it, but since he's never around them could that be different?

Yes, you will need to treat him with any permethrin product more than once to kill what hatches from the eggs being laid by the current adult bugs.

It is possible that your other birds don't have the lice yet but it won't hurt to treat your entire flock at the same time.

 

[NatureGirl74]

@casportpony
I checked the peafowl again. No lice

 

[casportpony]

@casportpony
I checked the peafowl again. No lice

 

[casportpony]

This is a pretty good video except for the part where they hold the chicken upside down, that you don't want to do. Put on a pair of gloves and a mask, keep the chicken upright, and work the dust through the feathers and onto the skin. Since chickens get many different types of lice that live on different parts of the chicken, you need to treat the whole bird.

Source: https://www.veterinaryentomology.org/chicken-lice