Lice and systemic treatments

[RebusCom]

This is my first post to this forum so it's both an introduction and a question.

We're primarily a llama ranch but have about twenty chickens that turn bugs into eggs -- an amazing transformation. Recently I found a rather heavy infestation of poultry lice on a chicken, and likely that means they are all carriers now.

I've seen mention on this forum that systemic treatments have been used for lice, like ivermectin, frontline, etc. While I can see this would be effective for mites, ticks, fleas and other biting insects, lice are not blood feeders. I understand they graze on the surface. Consequently, I would think that only topical treatments that would come into contact with the lice would be effective and any systemic treatments would not be very effective.

I assume this means individual dusting or dipping on multiple occasions is the only real solution, but I'm open to easier methods of control as my time is very limited. The chickens are free ranging so don't have specific dust bowls and the only time they can be caught is at night.

Scott
http://www.rattlesnakeridgeranch.com

 

[ivan3]

Please read through these two threads (though there are many others ), covers some of the questions you have. Some research (ruminants) indicates it is effective on some ectoparasites that do not feed on blood, and several members have related similar results using Eprinomectin pour-on:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/655819/is-there-a-dewormer-thats-safe-for-layers

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/...ng-which-do-you-prefer-for-external-parasites

Nice to have you on board!

 

[RebusCom]

I've found that Ivermectin is not very effective on external parasites, even including blood sucking ticks.

I had a llama go down with tick paralysis the day after a week long pack trip and she had a full injectable dose a few days beforehand, plus a pyrethroid pour-on just before going in. Right after she went down another dose of Ivermectin was administered. The three ticks she had still thrived. It wasn't until I found and removed the last one three days later that recovery began and the ticks were placed in a ziplock bag where they eventually completed their reproductive cycle.

The general consensus in the threads I've read on this forum seems to be that recurring dusting with Sevin or maybe a pyrethroid should get rid of the lice, but anything else has remote chance. Is that correct or is there something non-Ivermectin that is proven effective?

 

[ivan3]

We've had good results on poultry with the Eprinomectin (zero withdrawal).

vermectin and abamectin belong to a newer group of potent antiparasitic agents and fermentation products from Streptomyces avermitilis (Burg and Stapley, 1989). These systemic compounds are relatively persistent, broad spectrum toxicants active against nematodes, acarines and insects. Different formulations of ivermectin that can be applied by injection, orally and topically are available, and the type of formulation can have a marked effect on the antiparasitic activity. In general, the injectable formulation exhibits the highest activity against many species of ectoparasites. However, biting lice such as B. (Damallnia) bovis (Figure2) and B. ovis from cattle and sheep, respectively, are not eliminated consistently from animals given therapeutic injection or oral administration of ivermectin, whereas sucking lice that ingest blood body fluids from their host are highly susceptible (Benz el al. 1989). This difference may be related to the superficial feeding pattern of biting lice since when ivermectin is applied topically to cattle it effectively controls several ectoparasites (Barth etal., 1986; Alva-Valdes et al., 1986; Hotson et al., 1985) including sucking and biting lice..

http://phthiraptera.info/Publications/42074.pdf (good info on lice - in `commercial' ruminants)

I'm not fond of Sevin as it persists and requires a 7 day withdrawal (Ivermectin is 30-35 day withdrawal). You could try Adams tick and flea spray (some folks swear by it).

Do your chooks have access to a dirt bathing area? Wood ashes and amorphous diatomaceous earth (food grade) mixed in to the dust bath will help alleviate infestations and make new ones less likely. Access to sunlight also helps.