Lice and how to keep them away

[paganfish]

WOW! This has been SO helpful. I am glad I joined this site! Woo hoo! I just ordered my DE (food based) and found the best price too! Now...I have to wait for it to get here! Thanks to everyone that made all the suggestions...you've done a good deed!

I am going to try the mineral oil/tea tree oil way on a few of my bantams that have the scales on their legs. I thought it was just a condition she was in...but then another was getting the same thing. Now a few of them have it too...in lower stages. BTW: I have tea tree oil shampoo and conditioner. Can I use that for now, until I get the tea tree oil? I have to go to town to get the tea tree oil...and I was just in today. I wish I had known! LOL! I live in the country.

~:->

 

[paganfish]

Oh oops. I forgot to mention I order the DE from www.hoeggergoatsupply.com

~:->

 

[Miss Sue]

Well, I got the D.E., and applied it to my 4 chickens. I also put the DE into their coop and shavings and sprinkled it around the coop and run. I was thorough, taking care to get under the wings and around the vents especially.

They still had mites.

Yesterday I dusted them again with the DE. We'll check them again soon. I hope that it works, but if not, I'll go to something stronger.

Any advice is still welcome!

Susan

 

[motherhen]

I think I have mites. I read on a site you will see specks of pepper on the roost. I can see it and I am trying to get rid of them. I have dusted with louse powder, but it doesn't say it gets rid of mites. I have cleaned the coop and sprayed every where with soapy water. I can't find the orange oil in my area yet, still looking. The pen has wood ash in it and I am feeding the birds garlic. The chickens are broody and not laying yet, so no eggs.
Can anyone tell me how long it takes to get rid of these bugs? Since I sprayed I haven't seen any on the coop recently. The chickens don't have bugs, but I want to make sure they are okay for the winter. I am kind of desperate and using what is around the house to get rid of them.
Any suggestions would help. Thanks.

 

[TammyD]

to purchase essential oils at lower prices than ANY natural foods or spa-type place, use a google search to look for soapmaking supplies. I know that the following suppliers are excellent sources:
www.brambleberry.com
www.the-sage.com
www.rainbowmeadow.com
www.camden-grey.com (I think that's the website)

If any of the above don't work & you want more info I can double check the site addresses & get back to you. LMK if you need more info. If you spend less $ on supplies you can spend more $ on chicks

TammyD

 

[seminolewind]

Permectrin/pyrethrins would work, but labels state not to be used on animals that will be used for food. I think I would try Human lice shampoo, or like suggested tea tree oil, the oil will smother them. I would remove all the bedding, and spray with Ortho Home Defense, and let it dry good. I would put in new bedding after that, but not spray it.