LICE! oh no.

[dawg53]

Ugh. I'm getting discouraged.. I went out and looked at them again. If I can't get rid of it should I cull them and start over?

DONT cull your birds. Follow the directions in post #3 in this link:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/896883/treating-lice#post_13649769

 

[seminolewind]

Ugh. I'm getting discouraged.. I went out and looked at them again. If I can't get rid of it should I cull them and start over?

Would you cull your dog if he had fleas?

Go buy Sevin powder or poultry powder and dust them. I do it at night when they've roosted. It's easier.

 

[boskelli1571]

Ugh. I'm getting discouraged.. I went out and looked at them again. If I can't get rid of it should I cull them and start over?

If you are going to cull your birds simply because they have lice, perhaps you shouldn't have chickens?? Be aware all livestock require some sort of preventative 'maintenance' from time to time, so if it's too much trouble to do it..............just my opinion.

 

[BantamPhantom21]

im purchasing all the stuff friday(tomorrow) and going through the whole shed

 

[boskelli1571]

im purchasing all the stuff friday(tomorrow) and going through the whole shed

Good job! It's tedious, but if you keep it up as a routine, you really shouldn't need to do it too often. Make sure you throw out all the old bedding etc. if feasible wash down the inside of the coop with bleach/water (1:10), wait to dry then dust. If you only dust, make sure you dust heavily in the coop /nest boxes. There are several ways to dust chickens, but the method that works best for me is simplest. I put the powder in a bowl big enough for my hand. I kneel on the floor with a chicken between my knees holding tight with 1 hand. The other hand I fill with dust and dust the vent, under the wings, back/saddle area liberally. The chicken will act like your killing her (unless she's really docile), but you are doing her a huge service. I repeat this process in 7 days with DE, I alternate dust/DE for a 4 week rotation - no lice. You will become expert at this in no time! Do your chickens have access to a dust bathing area? It will help them to stay bug free. Have a good time tomorrow

 

[BantamPhantom21]

They have a fenced in areas prolly 10x10 or 10x12. Can't let loose cause where I live. No dust area, there ground is dirt. I'm planning on leaving a dust area but how ? De can't get wet? Oh and do I have to use Sevin? Can it just be DE? Figuring out what to purchase tm. Going to mop down walls and all tm.

 

[ALJhappychicken]

Ivermectin is only effective against mites, not lice. Chicken lice do bite and suck blood like cattle lice. Also, ivermectin is ineffective as a wormer due to its overuse in poultry as a miteacide.
Purchase sevin dust and dust your birds, dust inside the coop and nests. Repeat dusting in 7-10 days.

I completely agree with Dawg53. I used sevin dust on my birds, the coop, the nests, and sprinkled it around the run.

 

[BantamPhantom21]

So how many people used bleach/water to rub down inside barn\shed? And had lice before they put se in on chickens? I'm putting DE in coop after dries..

 

[boskelli1571]

Many people use the bleach combo for their cleaning routines. Cleaning routines vary - some people do it monthly, others 2x year - I'm in this camp, spring & fall. An infestation of lice/mites etc. will benefit from a full cleaning now. I really recommend you use an insecticidal dust & DE as I suggested. As for dust bathing - you can make them a dust bath. Use a large kitty litter pan or similar, fill it about 2/3 with wood ash, fine earth & DE - any or all in combo. Your girls will love you for it! DE gets clumpy if it gets wet, so a dry place for the pan if you can.

 

[BantamPhantom21]

So I totally just did the coop! I moved hens from shed, dusted the with se in 5, cleaned out shed, layed DE all over, in the boxes, ECT. And made a dust bath spot inside with DE and dirt. And now there Enjoying fresh mango