Lice, mites or ? **Warning--gross pictures** Any help appreciated

[perchie.girl]

Thats how lice or mites start..... The scabby areas are areas where the chickens have picked their own feathers out. imagine ants or fleas biting you in specific place.... That Is goinjg to itch or be irritated. Mites and lice are tiny... You will need to treat all your birds with an Ivermectin product of some sort, Or pyrethine dust. Strip the pens of bedding and throw it away if you can.... dont put it in the compost. Then Treat your pens with Adams spray or Seven mixed in a sprayer... Neem oil works too for mites. Pull nest boxes down too and spray those making sure to saturate any areas that have nooks and crannys.

Mites are smaller than lice .... Key in the words on Google Chicken Lice infestation. You will get pictures as well as combat strategies.

Ivermectin will kill both on the bird. Ivomec I believe is a cattle pour on form of Ivermectin. The dosages say three drops for birds If I remember my reading. ANd there is an egg withdrawal. time.... I dont remember that. IVermectin has the added bonus is when you treat for mites or lice you will also be treating for worms. Oh and unless you are using in massive quanties youreally cant overdose Ivermectin... youare just wasting it.

Follow the directions on the Adams Spray or Seven.... Those critters lay their own eggs. Which hatch in a given amount of time.... I believe its either seven or ten days.... Treat every one and the coop again in that amount of time. I would NOT put in nesting material or bedding till the second treatment is done.

deb

 

[Beekissed]

That "dirt at the base of the feathers" sounds like mite eggs to me. A good dust with Pyrethrin powder or even sulfur powder should do the trick and no withdrawal times. I'd also dust the roosts, the nest boxes and also place some in their favorite dusting spot. Don't dust the litter if you are using deep litter in the coop and run.