Lice won't go away...suggestions?

[centrarchid]

Give birds a location to dust themselves with actual dirt or charcoal. If you feel it is needed, then apply the sevin dust to the dust bathing site.

 

[Arielle]

I first tried DE as a dust, it did absolutely nothing, so I don't think dusting the nesting boxes would do any good either. I have a huge bag of it now that I don't know what to do with. I ended up buying Prozap Garden and Poultry Dust and I couldn't believe how many lice fell off of one of my hens. I still see her scratching around her neck and head and digging in her feathers so I know they are not completely gone. I read that the egg incubation time could be anywhere from 4 to 7 days for lice, so I would think 10 days would be a little long, wouldn't that allow more eggs to be laid by the lice? I was going to try Seven but the employees freaked when I told them I read on here to use Seven on chickens and that they would never apply it. I have read multiple sources, in Universities that specialize in Poultry recommend the Seven, funny how the people at my local store have never heard of nor would they use Seven on their chickens.

I did use sevin on every bird on the property. I was able to eliminate the lice from the chicks. THese had been hatched by a broody. Some of the hens continue to have the bugs; others do not. I have started using Sevin on my gos and cats for fleas. Far cheaper and more effective than other meds. Cats don't run away any more as they get a good rub and a scratch while I apply it. Can't say the chickens enjoy the application as much.

 

[Arielle]

Sevin dust is the way to go you will se the nasty little buggers falling of like dandruff, but it kills them off, we also got the liquid sevin and sprayed down the coop got rid off all shaving took them away very far. redust in 7 days incase nits hatch. an if you need wash with puppy flea tick shampoo. works great. i put sevin in a pillow case put bird in bag with head out of course and shake gently rub it in. Sprayed with the head with the puppy flea and tick spray.

I've heard of the shake n bake method. Good to know a pillow case works well. I've tried mixing the sevin with fine sand and then holding the chicken upside down by it's feet and I can get the sevin mixture under the feathers, to the skin layer. Mix results as it's too hard to get every where. So thanks for the pillow case tip.

 

[Arielle]

Give birds a location to dust themselves with actual dirt or charcoal. If you feel it is needed, then apply the sevin dust to the dust bathing site.

Is Sevin that has gotten wet less effective?? How long is it good for as a dust bath?? I tried setting up a dustbath in a kitty litter pan. Non of the birds would go near it! LOL The girls do have a fe choice spot outside by that they favor as a dust bath, but it does rain and get wet and all that.

 

[centrarchid]

Is Sevin that has gotten wet less effective?? How long is it good for as a dust bath?? I tried setting up a dustbath in a kitty litter pan. Non of the birds would go near it! LOL The girls do have a fe choice spot outside by that they favor as a dust bath, but it does rain and get wet and all that.

Try setting up an open topped cat litter box 2/3 full of soil with lots of clay / silt. Place in location protected from rain. Birds irritated by external parasites will very likely find it and dust them selves. Typical soil has small dense particles that penetrate feathers well. Somehow such dusting is how the birds keep the lice in check. Lice have yet to be a problem for my free-range birds that dust regularly but lice have been a problem for birds confined to henhouse. My free-ranging birds also dust frequently in locations where fire has left ash or charcoal so they may get some benefits from dusting in such.

 

[Arielle]

Try setting up an open topped cat litter box 2/3 full of soil with lots of clay / silt. Place in location protected from rain. Birds irritated by external parasites will very likely find it and dust them selves. Typical soil has small dense particles that penetrate feathers well. Somehow such dusting is how the birds keep the lice in check. Lice have yet to be a problem for my free-range birds that dust regularly but lice have been a problem for birds confined to henhouse. My free-ranging birds also dust frequently in locations where fire has left ash or charcoal so they may get some benefits from dusting in such.

I often read about using ashes. I wonder if it is the alkaline(?) that kills the bugs. Lye soaps are regarded as harsh, so I imagine ashes must be caustic too. Ashes are aplenty here, we use a wood stove all winter. Just had a hard time thinking a chicken would like it. Maybe I was more thinking I wouldn't like it, but then I'm not a chicken.

I originally placed a cat pan with sevin and fine sand in the hen house. No takers. How can I make it more appealing? I can add ashes. ANy thing else??

 

[Arielle]

I re read your post. Maybe I can add the material from their favorite dusting sites along with sevin and ashes to entice them.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I first tried DE as a dust, it did absolutely nothing, so I don't think dusting the nesting boxes would do any good either. I have a huge bag of it now that I don't know what to do with. I ended up buying Prozap Garden and Poultry Dust and I couldn't believe how many lice fell off of one of my hens. I still see her scratching around her neck and head and digging in her feathers so I know they are not completely gone. I read that the egg incubation time could be anywhere from 4 to 7 days for lice, so I would think 10 days would be a little long, wouldn't that allow more eggs to be laid by the lice? I was going to try Seven but the employees freaked when I told them I read on here to use Seven on chickens and that they would never apply it. I have read multiple sources, in Universities that specialize in Poultry recommend the Seven, funny how the people at my local store have never heard of nor would they use Seven on their chickens.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html
Here is information on sevin dust.

http://www.cfo.on.ca/_pdfs/PoultryWithdrawalTimeChart-Mar30-07.pdf
withdrawal time for sevin dust

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf
another link

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote:
I am as big of a fan of sevin dust for bugs as the next person, but I wouldn't put it on your dogs and cats without checking with your vet. Some things adversely affect dogs and cats (esp. cats) and everyone is just amazed that it happened.

Additionally, I wouldn't want that sevin dust coming in the house onto my sofa/floor. It is toxic. Just thought I would also mention that everyone should be using gloves, mask, long sleeves, take shower afterwards with sevin and poultry dust, like all chemicals.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Quote: When I looked sevin or permethrin (I forget which) up once I did find a mention that the effectiveness goes away outside in the rain after several weeks as I was considering an outdoor dust bath. So it should be kept out of the rain. Also keep in mind that you are better off offering the dust bath **** containing chemicals***(edited to add) once in a while, to avoid resistance buildup with permethrin, and to avoid constant toxic materials on your hens with sevin.