I brought home a bantam that has lice. (no mites) I have read on another post to treat with ivermectin but that it won't work on lice that eats feather dander?? How do you know what lice you have- I thought lice was lice. The ones I have seen look light tanish brown partially translucent wingless insects and I found them on me after handling the new bird. (I know i cannot catch them). I was planning on worming the birds anyway, so is ivermectin still a good choice over powders? And I am not sure i want to riskoverdosing using paste, as my birds are banties. I onlt have 3 birds and to ensure they each get properly dosed i would like to give it directly by mouth....so is the ivomec injectible/oral a better route? tips? thanks
I don't think ivermectin goes into the mouth you drop it on the skin. I used safeguard for worming issues with my chickens a pea size drop on a piece of bread worked great but then you would have to use the dust for the lice. Hopefully someone with more experience will chime in.
I've been doing lots of reading up on the Ivermectin, I picked up a bottle and plan to try it tomorrow. You want the Ivermectin Pour On to treat lice/mites. The paste is only for worming them. Its .25 cc for bantams, some use .30 cc for bantams. Some use way more than that. You put it on the skin on the base of their neck. What i've researched says that the ivermectin lasts up to 6 weeks on the birds. I've also read that it can have a negative effect on the males fertility for a couple weeks, and to wait 7-14 days before you start eating the eggs again. There is Ivomec Eprinex which is zero withdrawl, but expensive. http://www.tractorsupply.com/livestock-wormers/ivomec-eprinex-ivermectin-pour-on-cattle-dewormer-2207315 This is what I have been using to prevent lice. The residue of the Permethrin lasts 28 days, so I do it once a month. http://www.tractorsupply.com/insecticides/permethrin-10-livestock-amp-premise-spray-32-oz--2212611 1.28 ounces per gallon of water. I put it in a pump sprayer and go around and spray all the birds when they are on their roosts. You can also increase the dilution rate for use inside the coop on walls, roosts, etc.