Lice - treatments available

[james w]

Hi,

yesterday was one of those bad days, the type when you realise not everything is going to plan in the coop. Whilst I was butchering two young males for a bbq I noticed insects crawling on the skin. On closer inspection and having checked on the net, I believe that they were lice.

When I had finished butchering, I went out to the coop - mine are actually free range - and watched them for a bit. Sure enough, they were all busy preening and picking at their feathers.

I grapped a load of diatomaceous earth and inspected each one before rubbing some of the earth into their feathers, especially around the vent and tail. All of them were carrying lice, some more than others.

To the question - are birds with lice still edible?

If the diatomaceous doesn't work - not sure if it will kill the eggs and the lice - what are my options, perhaps a malathion bath?

Not sure what is available here in Italy. Perhaps permethrin - I would like to keep things organic and if not low toxic. I read here on this site http://groups.msn.com/chickenchronicles/poultrylice.msnw that individual birds can be effectively treated for lice using liquid soap (like Ivory) and water.

Any success in doing so?

Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[cjeanean]

Tea tree oil is good....mix some with water and spray them down....permethrin is bad for everyone, including humans. Tea tree oil can be used as a repellant even on humans....I don't know how well it works on existing problems. You are gonna have to clean the coop out, spray the WHOLE thing down with some sort of insecticide (natural or chemical) and treat ALL your birds....don't know what else to tell you!!! I haven't had this problem, hopefully never will, but then again I'm still new to all this!!!! Good luck!!!

Christina

 

[cjeanean]

I don't know if I would want to eat a chicken that has bugs, just cause I wouldn't want the extra protien. I wonder if bird lice can transfer to humans??? Hopefully someone else will be able to answer.....

 

[chickenlady]

I use seven garden dust. Works in a day. Give them a good week before you butcher them or eat the eggs. Lice will stay away for a while.

 

[Stella1964]

A sure fire way to kill lice is with organic virgin coconut oil, melted, with oil of oregano drops and tea tree oil drops. Put in a small spray bottle and squirt under wings, and all over feathers (not near the face). This works on humans as well and is non toxic. good luck!

 

[S0rcy]

cj, chicken lice and human lice infestations are not the same, you have nothing to worry about there.

Lice are very species specific.