lice on chickens

[enmim]

Can I get some opinions on how to deal with these lice? We first noticed them a week ago, but only on one bird, we got sevin and dusted all the birds, cleaned out the coop, sprayed it down and put in new bedding. Well now I see all the birds have the lice, I guess I just wasn't looking close enough last time, so I'm going to redust tomorrow with permethrin and I will dust the coop but do I have to clean out the whole coop again and throw out all the new bedding? Also how long should we wait to eat the eggs? We only threw out the next days batch, but the more I read I'm afraid we shouldn't be eating them.

 

[cw]

every one says de works , i myself dont lik sevens dust for anything

 

[SussexInSeattle]

Why can't you eat the eggs if you think the bird has lice? The lice can not penetrate the egg can it?

 

[cw]

its not the lice polluting the eggs! its the poison there putting in there to kill the lice thats gonna pollute the eggs, other then medicines, stay as organic as you possibly can i would even try dehydrated lime (not ag lime)or mississippi lime same stuff before i would cover anything in that crap,

 

[Guinea Goonie]

I have heard on this site several times now that the sevin is not working for them.DE is hard to find because you need the food grade, not the swimming pool grade.So, do I have an answer for you, no.

 

[Gazinga]

i would use the DE, it can be difficult sometimes ot get, but not impossible, Do a seasch for DE on this site, you will get many links to suppliers, i go through a 50lb bag a year with a 10 bird coop. Great stuff, i wouldnt dream of living without it

 

[enmim]

Thanks for the imput. I have DE and use it regularly in their coop and in their dustung baths outside, but these lice are everywhere, Im going to try permethrin instead of sevin, at least that says to use on dogs and cats, but I still don't know how long to not eat the eggs or if I need to clean out the whole coop.

 

[hinkjc]

The most important thing with treating parasite issues is to stay on top of it. All birds and coop/roosts/nests have to be treated and retreated to ensure you get the live bugs as well as the eggs. Persistance pays off. It sounds like you're on the right path.

 

[enmim]

Thanks hink do you have any idea about the length of contamination on the eggs? I just redusted all birds coop and bedding with permethrin, but don't know how long to throw the eggs out.

 

[LynneP]

I'm so sorry I can hear your frustration level. When you get back at the cleanup and treatments, remember to treat the entire run with food-grade DE, Sevin and or Dri-Kill or pyrethins. Pay special care to sills, cracks, crevices and the pop door.