Ivermectin Paste to treat lice?

[Dooziepen]

After bathing one of my girls this morning I found some lice on her, she is not infested, but of course I'm terrified! I have a tube of horse dewormer on hand, can I use a small amount on all 80ish chickens to treat for lice? Or do I need to get liquid? Thank you for any advice, this is a first for me.

 

[Folly's place]

In the USA, Ivermectin is not approved for use in poultry, so it's best to avoid it.
Permethrin spray concentrate is very effective, inexpensive, and much easier to use.
Apply it at night while the birds are roosting, and spray their coop too. And, it's approved for use, with no egg withdrawal.
Mary

 

[Dooziepen]

In the USA, Ivermectin is not approved for use in poultry, so it's best to avoid it.
Permethrin spray concentrate is very effective, inexpensive, and much easier to use.
Apply it at night while the birds are roosting, and spray their coop too. And, it's approved for use, with no egg withdrawal.
Mary

Thank you for your reply! When you say apply at night, do I need to spray under their wings and such?

 

[Folly's place]

We spray up under each bird while they are actually roosting, which also gets the roost bars. And then over their topline. They already had vents and chests sprayed while on their roosts.
Wear gloves and a facemask, and long sleeves, just as you would with dust or any insecticide.
Our pen and forty- odd birds takes maybe fifteen minutes, no muss, nor 'bird wrassling'.
Mary

 

[Mosey2003]

If one DID choose to use ivermectin off-label, it's the pour-on you want to use, not the oral paste.

 

[casportpony]

When treating for lice I've found it works best by getting the permethrin on the skin.

 

[Folly's place]

So true! And so many times lice on the back and neck. Then more handling might be needed. It's still easy! We've had more issues with mites here; haven't seen lice in many years. maybe tomorrow, who knows?
Mary

 

[casportpony]

One could use any of the ivermectins (paste, 1% injectable, or 0.05% pour- on), they all work, but the recommended egg withdrawal time I saw was 8 weeks.

 

[casportpony]

So true! And so many times lice on the back and neck. Then more handling might be needed. It's still easy! We've had more issues with mites here; haven't seen lice in many years. maybe tomorrow, who knows?
Mary

Opposite here, not mites in years, just lice.

 

[Mosey2003]

Ah, I thought it was the pour-on that was advised. Good to know.