Lice and mites - the struggle is real!

[Wyorp Rock]

I think she has been the one who laid weird shaped eggs, soft shells, etc. I will see how she is in the morning. She's been sleeping nicely in the garage (we have heated floors which she seems to like). But she is smelly. Tomorrow, I'll give her another sitz bath and check her vent, delouse her and the rest of the chickens. If she is not better by evening I'll make a decision on her welfare.

Keep us posted on how she is

 

[cmom]

Try over the counter lice shampoo for people. If you want to bathe your birds, every over-the-counter (OTC) treatment for head lice contains either pyrethrins (Rid or Triple X) or permethrin (Nix) here in the US. They are effective treatment. Both only kill live pests, not the pests eggs.

 

[cmom]

You might be able get permethrin on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001EVKCKM/?tag=backy-20

 

[cmom]

I had some birds that were severely infested. I thought they were just molting but weren't getting their feathers back in when I discovered they had mites. The first thing I tried was DE. The birds weren't improving and still had mites. I first discovered them in only one coop but eventually found them on birds in another coop. I dusted the birds and the coops with the DE and no improvement. I did use some seven dust that I had but it was almost gone but it did help. I did some research and came up with permethrin, which is the pyrethrum on steroids. It lasts longer than pyrethrum. Wild birds can bring them in if they have access to their coop. If you are able to get some spray or dust, I used the dust on the birds and in their nest boxes and sprayed inside of the coops, every crack and crevice, on and under the roosts, ceiling, walls, floors, anywhere the mites can hide. Since it so cold you can spread the dust around. Wear special clothing including a mask and gloves. I did a weekly spraying for awhile and put permethrin dust in the nest boxes, originally sprayed the birds getting under the wings and worked it through their feathers with gloves which you can also do with the dust. Slowly the birds began to recover and get their feathers back in. I think if I hadn't treated with the permethrin when I did I probably would have lost some birds to the mites. The birds were in bad condition. I did originally bathe the worst birds with flea shampoo which did help but did not get rid of the mites but then discovered that the over the counter (OTC) head lice shampoo for people. The added benefit was no egg withdrawal period, and the birds are beautiful again. Good luck...

 

[Onlysony]

I sprayed all the birds and their coop - all nooks and crannies. I sprayed all birds around their vents, under wings and down back...we have no powders to dust here in Canada. Next I'll lightly spray them in a couple days and see how they are. I also wormed them all - know knows what they picked up if they ate any of those bugs crawling on them. I put down a dust bath for them from ash. The old bird, having 2 nights on her own, perked up amazingly. She was all chatter this morning and went out with the other birds when they were all roosting tonight. We shall see how things go in the next couple weeks.

 

[aart]

Next I'll lightly spray them in a couple days and see how they are.

'Lightly spraying' makes me think spritzing them from overhead, maybe I'm incorrect there(apologies, if so), but not a good idea. Spray needs to get on their skin or it's about useless, and usually repeated again in 7 days...and in another 7 days if live bugs are still present.
Curious, what spray did you end up getting?
Did you check the other birds for bug load?
Too bad you can't get dust, glad the old girl has perked up!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I sprayed all the birds and their coop - all nooks and crannies. I sprayed all birds around their vents, under wings and down back...we have no powders to dust here in Canada. Next I'll lightly spray them in a couple days and see how they are. I also wormed them all - know knows what they picked up if they ate any of those bugs crawling on them. I put down a dust bath for them from ash. The old bird, having 2 nights on her own, perked up amazingly. She was all chatter this morning and went out with the other birds when they were all roosting tonight. We shall see how things go in the next couple weeks.

Glad to hear she has perked up!
She may have just needed some supportive care in addition to getting rid of the bugs.
It might be a good idea to give her extra attention for a while - maybe take her aside for a few minutes each day, give her a bit of eggs or meat, vitamins every few days, etc.

 

[Onlysony]

Curious, what spray did you end up getting?
Did you check the other birds for bug load?

Doktor Doom is the insecticide. We sprayed all the chickens under their wings, around their tail and vent and down their backs...massaged it all in; as per the instructions. Then it said to repeat by spraying over top them in 7 days. We have 6 Isa Browns - who all had a bad lice load when we checked but they also came to us with snipped beaks and can't clear away any bugs on themselves. We have 2 heritage hens and 1 rooster. All 3 of them had very little of anything. They were healthy and giant and clean.

 

[cmom]

Doktor Doom is good. I have never used it but it does have permethrin in it which I use with success on my birds and in their coops as needed.

 

[Fairview01]

If one bird has lice and mites then the entire flock has them.

If it were me my first step would be to add saline based ivermectin to the drinking water for 3 consecutive days a week for 3 weeks. During the winter i add 10ml/gallon. Thats like 3x the recommended dosage however water consumption during the winter is greatly reduced and this ensures everyone gets an effective dose.

Then i would GENEROUSLY powder their butts and coop, roosts, bedding and corners and cracks with Sevin or any permethrin based product. Everything should be white. If it isn't white you havent applied enough. It will be diluted in the bedding. Do this once a week for 3 weeks also. Check the ornamental plant section of nurseries. Most dusting powders for roses will contain permethrin or sevin (carbaryl).