Just Found Creepy Crawlies On My Hen

[Patchesnposies]

I have read about mites and lice but never paid much attention to how to treat them.

I had a hen that had a wad of mud/poop stuck to her belly just above her vent. So as I was cutting it off (it was stuck fast and must have hurt pulling on the base of those feathers) I see a bunch of little tan buggers running around! These have got to go! Freeloaders!


I'm going to run to the feed store to pick up something to dust them with. Can anyone give me advice on what works best???

Thanks so much!

Deb

 

[Poohbear]

Adams Flea and Tick spray for dogs. 1 above butt, 1 under each wing 1 under saddle feathers near tal on top and one under hackle feathers around neck will drop mite and lice in their tracks and won't hurt your chickens.

 

[Patchesnposies]

Thanks Poohbear, I appreciate your help! Do I have to get this at the vets or will Wally World have it?

Deb

 

[KristaChickenWhisperer]

I use a dust that is for both chickens and their coop/gardens. That way when I dust them I can also dust their living area and kill off any of the tricky ones living in the bedding.

I am unsure of the brand(I am away at college and do not have access to it) but your local feed store should have something similar.

Good luck!!

 

[FractalFarmer]

I had the same thing: light brownish / reddish mites on my hen. I tried dusting with poultry dust first that had pyrethrum(sp?) as the active ingredient, but after 2 dustings there were still live bugs almost a week later. I moved up to Sevin, and that did the trick. Then of course, change the bedding and clean the coop and dust with DE.

good luck!

 

[Jenski]

I use Prozap Poultry Dust on my hens every once in awhile ~

http://www.jefferspet.com/product/prozap174-poultry-garden-dust-6237.cfm

~ and I use DE in the coop shavings. Poultry dust (permethrin-based) can be found at co-op, TSC, or your local farm shop. Works great!

Good luck.


Ed. to add ~ remember the life cycle of the buggers is about 4 days to hatch new eggs, so you will want to re-dust at least once in 4-5 days to catch the new critters.

 

[JennsPeeps]

Seven dust 5%, which you can buy at any garden or home store, will do the trick.

Remember to:
1. dust under the wings
2. dust all the birds
3. dust the coop & roost
4. wear a dust mask!

 

[Patchesnposies]

Thank you to everyone who took the time to post advice.

I greatly appreciate it.

So will the hens.

Deb

 

[Poohbear]

You can get the Adams Flea and Tick spray at Wal-mart, feed store, tractor supply or most pet stores. I get the squirt bottles. If you can catch your chickens on the roost at night, just walk in real quiet with a flashlight and squirt each one one the butt. Helps KEEP mites and lice away too! Worms and mites are a grown chickens biggest illness. Coccidosis is a baby chicks biggest problem Stay on top for healthier, happier chickens.