Lice killing chickens?

[kookiekittie]

Do lice infestations often kill chickens? I'm getting mixed answers online. I have a chicken right now who has lice on her so I brought her inside and treated her with elector psp yesterday. Today she's very lethargic and barely moves when I touch her and won't eat or drink. I tried syringing some vitamins and sugar water into her, but no response yet. Is there anything else I can do?

For the rest of the flock: I can't really clean the coop right now because it's below 0 for the next few days, but I'm adding wood ash to the dust baths. I won't use the permethrin dust because of my barn cats. So far no one else looks lethargic, but I'm assuming they're all crawling with lice.

 

[AGeese]

Do you have any pictures of the lice? Blood sucking mites could.

 

[kookiekittie]

Do you have any pictures of the lice? Blood sucking mites could.

I couldn't get a good picture of them, but they're definitely lice: yellowish, oblong, and fast. I've had mites before and these are bigger. I haven't seen any sign of mites this year, but I keep a close eye out for them since we had a bad infestation 2 years ago that killed a bunch of chicks.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Do lice infestations often kill chickens? I'm getting mixed answers online. I have a chicken right now who has lice on her so I brought her inside and treated her with elector psp yesterday. Today she's very lethargic and barely moves when I touch her and won't eat or drink. I tried syringing some vitamins and sugar water into her, but no response yet. Is there anything else I can do?

View attachment 4030951
For the rest of the flock: I can't really clean the coop right now because it's below 0 for the next few days, but I'm adding wood ash to the dust baths. I won't use the permethrin dust because of my barn cats. So far no one else looks lethargic, but I'm assuming they're all crawling with lice.

How did you use the Elector PSP, did you dip her or spray her?

Are the lice dead or still moving about?


I'd first see if I could get her to take drops of warmed sugar water, see if she perks up.

When was her last egg? Could be she has something going on besides lice, often chickens that are not well have external parasites. If she's not laid an egg and should have then I'd give her Extra Calcium asap. Calcium Citrate+D3 now, then once daily. If you don't have that, give her 1 TUMS now, then once daily for at least a week.

Is she pooping? Photos?
What's her crop like?

If the infestation is heavy, then lice can take their tole on a bird that is not well.

 

[kookiekittie]

How did you use the Elector PSP, did you dip her or spray her?

Are the lice dead or still moving about?


I'd first see if I could get her to take drops of warmed sugar water, see if she perks up.

When was her last egg? Could be she has something going on besides lice, often chickens that are not well have external parasites. If she's not laid an egg and should have then I'd give her Extra Calcium asap. Calcium Citrate+D3 now, then once daily. If you don't have that, give her 1 TUMS now, then once daily for at least a week.

Is she pooping? Photos?
What's her crop like?

If the infestation is heavy, then lice can take their tole on a bird that is not well.

She just passed. Think I'm going to attempt a necropsy to see what else was going on.

For the elector psp, I sprayed it on her and I did see a bunch of dead lice this morning, none were moving.

I think she may have just started laying recently, but I have a bunch of pullets and wasn't sure who was laying yet or not.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

She just passed. Think I'm going to attempt a necropsy to see what else was going on.

For the elector psp, I sprayed it on her and I did see a bunch of dead lice this morning, none were moving.

I think she may have just started laying recently, but I have a bunch of pullets and wasn't sure who was laying yet or not.

I'm sorry you lost her.

If you do investigate further and wish to take photos, we'll try to help you with what you see. Many of us do our own home necropsy. Sometimes we can figure a few things out, sometimes not so much.

I'd check the others, if they have parasites, I'd treat them and the housing too.

If it's really cold, then you may want to use Permethrin poultry dust instead of a spray for the birds. Work the dust down through the feathers all the way to the skin.