LICE, please help!

[Backyardexplorer]

I recently brought home two silkie chicks from a local breeder only to discover one is covered in lice and already has eggs all over its scalp!

I bathed the chick in dawn soap and water last night and removed most of the active lice. However, now I am as a loss. How do I get rid of the eggs and prevent lice from spreading? What can I do?

The two silkie chicks were placed in a brooder with my other baby chicks for 2 days and after discovering the lice I have now separated them.

I am disappointed and disgusted. Is it worth trying to save the chick and them of lice? Do you cull a baby chick with lice to prevent spread?

Please advise!

 

[DobieLover]

Go to your local farm store and get a can of poultry dust that contains permethrin. You can coat the chicks in a fine layer of dust and ruffle it down to their skin. I would treat all of the chicks. Repeat again in 7 days. If you're concerned that you may have missed any eggs, do it again 7 days after that. That should take care of the problem.

 

[Backyardexplorer]

Go to your local farm store and get a can of poultry dust that contains permethrin. You can coat the chicks in a fine layer of dust and ruffle it down to their skin. I would treat all of the chicks. Repeat again in 7 days. If you're concerned that you may have missed any eggs, do it again 7 days after that. That should take care of the problem.

Thank you for this recommendation. I went and purchased the dust today and coated all the chicks with it. I am praying it works.

Just as a second set of eyes, these are lice eggs correct? They are on her neck area. This is a 1-2week old silkie chick. I trimmed her hair to get a better look. This is the only place I have found on her body that looks like this.

 

[CabritaChicks]

I guess Im getting old, with my second set of eyes- or maybe a camera angle. I dont see any lice eggs. I do see barbered feathers.

 

[Backyardexplorer]

I guess Im getting old, with my second set of eyes- or maybe a camera angle. I dont see any lice eggs. I do see barbered feathers.

That’s what I wondering… do they look like lice eggs or feathers coming in? She did have active lice on her that came off with a bath. Now I’m confused if these are feathers or lice eggs. I would feel very relieved if they are feathers.

Either way, they have been coated in the poultry powder.

 

[AshVau22]

I'm not seeing any lice from pictures. Honestly looks like feathers growing in. But I'm also not seeing it in person.

 

[CabritaChicks]

That’s what I wondering… do they look like lice eggs or feathers coming in? She did have active lice on her that came off with a bath. Now I’m confused if these are feathers or lice eggs. I would feel very relieved if they are feathers.

Either way, they have been coated in the poultry powder.

Looks like feathers coming in/trimmed and bullied (they are called 'pin feathers' or sheaths, I see zero signs of lice).

Edit: can you circle what you think are lice on the image?

 

[Backyardexplorer]

Here are a few more photos! Thanks to everyone for looking. The last photo is an attempted photo to show the dead insects that came off of her.

Side note: When I initially inspected her she was covered with live lice. I bathed her in dawn soap and that killed most of the active lice. I assumed these were lice eggs as they are only as the base of the feathers around her head and neck.

 

[Backyardexplorer]

Looks like feathers coming in/trimmed and bullied (they are called 'pin feathers' or sheaths, I see zero signs of lice).

Edit: can you circle what you think are lice on the image?

I posted a few photos!

 

[nuthatched]

Permethrine spray or dust is fine for treatment