Lice eggs

[Rose Quartz]

Ok, Thanks for your help.

 

[Acre4Me]

Bathing: yes, gentle soap. I’ve used an all natural dish soap marketed for use with baby bottles (Walmart) bc it rinsed off the easiest and quickest of any I tried. Avoid scents -go with unscented if possible bc bird respiratory systems are sensitive. We put the dish soap in the bathing water, then a tub of rinse water, then wrapped in towel to dry them off, then a hair dryer on low (some heat is ok). They actually like the hair dryer. Every single bird I’ve washed and dried likes the hair dryer, including the rooster. It’s the water they are less keen on...guess that’s where the phrase “madder than a wet hen” comes from! The heavily feathered breeds take longer to dry, don’t forget to dry between their legs - lots of fluff.

permethrin is great! We’ve had lice on the chickens (from the wild birds) and sprayed them with permethrin using a garden sprayer which has a nice fine mist. One person can do it, but we use two people. One to hold the chicken upside down, the other to quickly spray vent, between legs, and under wings. Toss into already cleaned and sprayed with permethrin coop. This way, only clean birds go into clean and sprayed coop and we keep track of who was sprayed. Repeat in 10 days.

We’ve never used the dust on chickens bc I had the concentrate to mix into water. However, I did dust the garden for a pest this year...what a mess!! So, if you dust the chickens be prepared for a dusty mess, have a respirator or a face mask (white paper shaped ones sold everywhere) handy so you don’t breathe in the dust. Wear a shirt or light jacket that will keep dust off main clothes and is easy to take off and wash.

good luck!

 

[Rose Quartz]

Bathing: yes, gentle soap. I’ve used an all natural dish soap marketed for use with baby bottles (Walmart) bc it rinsed off the easiest and quickest of any I tried. Avoid scents -go with unscented if possible bc bird respiratory systems are sensitive. We put the dish soap in the bathing water, then a tub of rinse water, then wrapped in towel to dry them off, then a hair dryer on low (some heat is ok). They actually like the hair dryer. Every single bird I’ve washed and dried likes the hair dryer, including the rooster. It’s the water they are less keen on...guess that’s where the phrase “madder than a wet hen” comes from! The heavily feathered breeds take longer to dry, don’t forget to dry between their legs - lots of fluff.

permethrin is great! We’ve had lice on the chickens (from the wild birds) and sprayed them with permethrin using a garden sprayer which has a nice fine mist. One person can do it, but we use two people. One to hold the chicken upside down, the other to quickly spray vent, between legs, and under wings. Toss into already cleaned and sprayed with permethrin coop. This way, only clean birds go into clean and sprayed coop and we keep track of who was sprayed. Repeat in 10 days.

We’ve never used the dust on chickens bc I had the concentrate to mix into water. However, I did dust the garden for a pest this year...what a mess!! So, if you dust the chickens be prepared for a dusty mess, have a respirator or a face mask (white paper shaped ones sold everywhere) handy so you don’t breathe in the dust. Wear a shirt or light jacket that will keep dust off main clothes and is easy to take off and wash.

good luck!

Thanks I'll see what I can find at my local shop. Not sure what kind they carry. Pretty sure the chickies won't appreciate hose water on their behinds if that's what you mean by garden sprayer. I'll likely have to bring them inside to do any cleaning or medicating, since it will be easiest to catch them at night while they're sleeping.

 

[Acre4Me]

Thanks I'll see what I can find at my local shop. Not sure what kind they carry. Pretty sure the chickies won't appreciate hose water on their behinds if that's what you mean by garden sprayer. I'll likely have to bring them inside to do any cleaning or medicating, since it will be easiest to catch them at night while they're sleeping.

These are the garden sprayers Im talking about. I add the specified amount of permethrin, and then fill with water to the appropriate line. Very fine mist, but somewhat adjustable. They would definitely NOT like the garden hose!

 

[Rose Quartz]

View attachment 1951658

These are the garden sprayers Im talking about. I add the specified amount of permethrin, and then fill with water to the appropriate line. Very fine mist, but somewhat adjustable. They would definitely NOT like the garden hose!

Oh, i dont have one of those.

 

[Acre4Me]

Oh, i dont have one of those.

Luckily they come in several sizes and the smaller ones like in the pic are pretty cheap! Good luck getting rid of the lice!

 

[Rose Quartz]

Luckily they come in several sizes and the smaller ones like in the pic are pretty cheap! Good luck getting rid of the lice!

Thanks I'll see if I can track one down. I don't think my feed store carries them.

 

[kerbotx]

Thanks I'll see if I can track one down. I don't think my feed store carries them.

If you decide to use the dust, you may also want a pistol duster for application, similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LRMN9ZM/?tag=backy-20
Just go into the coop a couple of hours after they roost, and you can dust them right there. You might consider plucking the feathers with egg nits, if there aren't very many of them, but def don't cut them - the feathers will only regrow when plucked.

 

[Rose Quartz]

If you decide to use the dust, you may also want a pistol duster for application, similar to this: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01LRMN9ZM/?tag=backy-20
Just go into the coop a couple of hours after they roost, and you can dust them right there. You might consider plucking the feathers with egg nits, if there aren't very many of them, but def don't cut them - the feathers will only regrow when plucked.

Oh, didn't know that. I figured it would be kinder to the chicken, but sure, I'll probably try coconut oil first to see if I can get them off.