Lice and how to keep them away

[wren]

Hey what kind of dust are you using chickensinMT? B/c you should only dust once a week with most chemicals. If it's D.E. dust to your heart's content, although it may irritate your chicken's skin. BTW, don't get it in eyes, mouth, or breathe it.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Adding cedar shavings to your coop will go a long way to break the cycle of you have lice or mites. Don't use 100% cedar as it is too irritating to the chickens, but you can go as high as 10 or 20% without any problems. Get the big bales from a Walmart for best price.

DE added to some used potting soil (after I clean out the hanging baskets) in low flat Rubbermaid tubs in the barn intice my chickens to do lots of dust bathing themselves so I don't have to dust them at the worst time of year here, the fall. With the rain in full supply there is no nice place to dust bath outside so they are most likely to neglect themselves.

 

[chickensinMT]

Its called Pemectrin (sp) Fly and Louse Dust. I got it from the feed store and it doesn't seem to be iritating them. Hopefully I'm not hurting them? the ceder shavings is a good idea expet that I get my shavings for free because my dad owns a wood shop. I'm still working on getting some DE. Oh will lice cause the feather to fall out when you barely move them or is it just the molt?

 

[EggCentric]

http://www.webcom.com/ecostore/

I found this place that carries DE, it's in Bozeman MT.

 

[chickensinMT]

the links not working

 

[EggCentric]

Sorry about that, here's the info for the company:

PLANET NATURAL
1612 Gold Ave
P.O. Box 3146
Bozeman, MT 59772
(800) 289-6656
(406) 587-5891
(406) 587-0223 fax
http://www.webcom.com/ecostore/tableofcontents.html

E-mail: [email protected]

 

[mdbucks]

that link didn't work either

http://www.planetnatural.com/site/order.html

maybe this will work is this the same store?
4lb bag 9.95 +shipping ouch

 

[wren]

I am not familiar with the louse powder you are using, so I guess you will have to read the fine print on the package and guess how it applies to chickens. It's probably for cows and pigs. Some stuff can effect the chicken's eggs. I would catch each one work the powder down to the skin everywhere except their heads and let them be for at least 4 weeks then check them again. If I am remembering right, the eggs of a louse are resistant to treatment so you need to retreat.

Yes lice will make a chicken's feathers fall out if the infestation is bad enough.

I bet that the stuff you got from the feed store will work great just work it down to the skin, especially around the vent and tail. Then apply it again maybe a month later.

 

[chickensinMT]

Okay that sounds better to apply it every 4 weeks. and I have been trying to work it into the skin around the vent and tail. I guese between the molt and the powder that it is what has made some hens stop laying thanks for all the help

 

[ozark hen]

my chickens free range and they have a few spots they use to dust bathe in so I liberally dose those spots with D.E. food grade, of course. I use it as a 'preventive' measure.