They (the lice) can be on you as well if you are in the coop/nesting area....time to do a good cleaning!
lice!!!
- Thread starter chelschix
- Start date
A few may jump on you, but you cannot be infested with them. They are species specific.
- Jan 9, 2014
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Oh thanks for the post i will get on it this week
- May 10, 2013
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Last edited:
- May 14, 2014
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I find that ivermectin works for my chickens, I use a syringe(without the needle!) and only put a few drops where the effected areas are, the ivermecin will go all through the chickens skin(not affecting the chook) and will kill off the lice and mites. I treated my chooks 9 months ago and there is still no sign of any lice or mites.
- Jul 19, 2014
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This is my first post, although I've been absorbing info from BYC for a few months or more now, as I've just started keeping chickens...
I've read all (currently) 17 pages of posts on this thread, and learned a lot, but also had a few reactions and relevant thoughts I felt might be interesting to others...maybe only if you're a bit of a nerd like me...?
Anyway,
In no particular order:
i. Natural doesn't necessarily mean "safe"... Poison Ivy, Hemlock, the Destroying Angel (Amanita ocreata, a TOXIC mushroom), etc. are natural. UV light and radon gas aren't always human made. It might mean 'safer' as in probably is less harsh or has fewer side effects than something cooked up by 'big pharma' in a lab somewhere but it might not. Natural might mean you're not putting as many dollars in the pocket of 'big pharma' or other corporate bank accounts. However, beware products with 'natural' slapped on them, for example, to make them sound like they're worth a higher price (Water, the NATURAL way to Hydrate! oooh it's ALL NATURAL) or to sound trendy. Sometimes, I think 'natural' products or methods might be a little safer because we've had more time (generations in some cases?) to try them out and see what unexpected effects they have other than the intended one...then again, how long did it take people to figure out lead was poisonous?
ii. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Life in general are complicated, diverse, and quirky. Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs, but not humans. The original chemical derivative from chrysanthemums (pyrethrins) which is used in flea control on dogs is fatal to cats... but not dogs (go figure!). Whatever you choose for pest control/prevention, keep in mind you are applying something that will kill or mess with a living creature. Some people have pointed this out already in other phrasing, but essentially, these things aren't magic bullets which only will kill the creature listed on the front of the product in big letters.... it might also kill creatures listed in small letters on the side or back (or insert) of the package. Those critters might not just be other arthropods, they can be things like fish or cats. Also think about that if you are using something that is not usually used for that purpose...Dosage accuracy may or may not be of UTMOST importance, so a little bit of research is probably a good thing, a lot of research is probably better? Forewarned is forearmed, and so on.
iii. Everything made of matter is 'chemical' (I'm pretty sure of this... at least most material things are....). Carbon is a chemical. Argon is a chemical. Hydrogen Peroxide is a chemical. Sodium Bicarbonate is baking soda, and bleach for your clothes and sanitizing the toilet bowl is usually Sodium Hypochlorite. A slice of organic cheddar cheese is made of many different chemicals, all blended to perfection (mmm cheese!)...it's just that most people don't think of the chemicals in cheese in a 'chemical' way... it's just "cheese" at that point. Maybe because it was made via the biological agent known as a "cow" and then when someone prepared the milk into cheese... using the magic of culinary chemistry. A quick Google search for "active ingredient virgin coconut oil" finds that lauric acid seems to be attributed with many of the supposed health benefits (I didn't search long enough to see if that's what causing the ~melting of the lice/nits). That's starting to sound "chemical"... then again, it's easier to say "chemical pest control" than to say "human synthesized heavily processed pest control chemicals" I guess. And again, I can't think of an easier way to convey what I think the connotation for 'natural' is...other than as a long winded phrase like "not heavily processed or human synthesized and probably instead biologically or mineral-ly based". Then again, wood ash definitely is made by humans, and if you take ash and water, you end up with lye (caustic), and put that on oil, you end up with soap I think... so again... everything is chemistry!
iv. I'm not sure what all medications were mentioned, but I'm pretty sure that some of them are being mentioned on a brand name basis, and some are being talked about as the active ingredient... kinda like my husband uses of the term "motrin" to refer to any medication based on ibuprofen.... a case of "brand name" versus "active ingredient" .... Like what I have right now to get the nasty little lice on my chickens... I have a Garden Powder thingy from Tractor Supply which is labeled as Permethrin 5%. I think it's probably a good thing to not only know what brand and product you are using, but what the active (and probably some of the inactive) ingredients are.
v. The lice on my newest batch of chickens which prompted my BYC binge are ... natural... I think. I mean, I doubt the previous owner went into his basement lab and brewed them up in beakers and vats and then applied them to the chickens (oh I hope not!). However, I don't intend to let them stick around, natural (probably natural result of poor hygiene, overcrowding, stress, etc) or not. I decided to go with a synthesized but seemingly popular and somewhat 'traditionally used' product for starters to really KILL THOSE BUGGERS and then I'll try providing wood ash and occasionally maybe apply the virgin coconut oil as a preventative...
And lastly,
vi. THANKS to everyone who posted! It helps me to hear different points of views, experiences, and opinions. And kudos to anyone who read this whole reply... I know it's long!
I've read all (currently) 17 pages of posts on this thread, and learned a lot, but also had a few reactions and relevant thoughts I felt might be interesting to others...maybe only if you're a bit of a nerd like me...?
Anyway,
In no particular order:
i. Natural doesn't necessarily mean "safe"... Poison Ivy, Hemlock, the Destroying Angel (Amanita ocreata, a TOXIC mushroom), etc. are natural. UV light and radon gas aren't always human made. It might mean 'safer' as in probably is less harsh or has fewer side effects than something cooked up by 'big pharma' in a lab somewhere but it might not. Natural might mean you're not putting as many dollars in the pocket of 'big pharma' or other corporate bank accounts. However, beware products with 'natural' slapped on them, for example, to make them sound like they're worth a higher price (Water, the NATURAL way to Hydrate! oooh it's ALL NATURAL) or to sound trendy. Sometimes, I think 'natural' products or methods might be a little safer because we've had more time (generations in some cases?) to try them out and see what unexpected effects they have other than the intended one...then again, how long did it take people to figure out lead was poisonous?
ii. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Life in general are complicated, diverse, and quirky. Macadamia nuts are toxic to dogs, but not humans. The original chemical derivative from chrysanthemums (pyrethrins) which is used in flea control on dogs is fatal to cats... but not dogs (go figure!). Whatever you choose for pest control/prevention, keep in mind you are applying something that will kill or mess with a living creature. Some people have pointed this out already in other phrasing, but essentially, these things aren't magic bullets which only will kill the creature listed on the front of the product in big letters.... it might also kill creatures listed in small letters on the side or back (or insert) of the package. Those critters might not just be other arthropods, they can be things like fish or cats. Also think about that if you are using something that is not usually used for that purpose...Dosage accuracy may or may not be of UTMOST importance, so a little bit of research is probably a good thing, a lot of research is probably better? Forewarned is forearmed, and so on.
iii. Everything made of matter is 'chemical' (I'm pretty sure of this... at least most material things are....). Carbon is a chemical. Argon is a chemical. Hydrogen Peroxide is a chemical. Sodium Bicarbonate is baking soda, and bleach for your clothes and sanitizing the toilet bowl is usually Sodium Hypochlorite. A slice of organic cheddar cheese is made of many different chemicals, all blended to perfection (mmm cheese!)...it's just that most people don't think of the chemicals in cheese in a 'chemical' way... it's just "cheese" at that point. Maybe because it was made via the biological agent known as a "cow" and then when someone prepared the milk into cheese... using the magic of culinary chemistry. A quick Google search for "active ingredient virgin coconut oil" finds that lauric acid seems to be attributed with many of the supposed health benefits (I didn't search long enough to see if that's what causing the ~melting of the lice/nits). That's starting to sound "chemical"... then again, it's easier to say "chemical pest control" than to say "human synthesized heavily processed pest control chemicals" I guess. And again, I can't think of an easier way to convey what I think the connotation for 'natural' is...other than as a long winded phrase like "not heavily processed or human synthesized and probably instead biologically or mineral-ly based". Then again, wood ash definitely is made by humans, and if you take ash and water, you end up with lye (caustic), and put that on oil, you end up with soap I think... so again... everything is chemistry!
iv. I'm not sure what all medications were mentioned, but I'm pretty sure that some of them are being mentioned on a brand name basis, and some are being talked about as the active ingredient... kinda like my husband uses of the term "motrin" to refer to any medication based on ibuprofen.... a case of "brand name" versus "active ingredient" .... Like what I have right now to get the nasty little lice on my chickens... I have a Garden Powder thingy from Tractor Supply which is labeled as Permethrin 5%. I think it's probably a good thing to not only know what brand and product you are using, but what the active (and probably some of the inactive) ingredients are.
v. The lice on my newest batch of chickens which prompted my BYC binge are ... natural... I think. I mean, I doubt the previous owner went into his basement lab and brewed them up in beakers and vats and then applied them to the chickens (oh I hope not!). However, I don't intend to let them stick around, natural (probably natural result of poor hygiene, overcrowding, stress, etc) or not. I decided to go with a synthesized but seemingly popular and somewhat 'traditionally used' product for starters to really KILL THOSE BUGGERS and then I'll try providing wood ash and occasionally maybe apply the virgin coconut oil as a preventative...
And lastly,
vi. THANKS to everyone who posted! It helps me to hear different points of views, experiences, and opinions. And kudos to anyone who read this whole reply... I know it's long!
I have just treated my girls with sevin dust like I have in the past with good results, BUT I have (in a seperate cop) a mother hen and her 10 day old chick.... I found a few lice and eggs on her (mom's) bum and vent area. I don't want to use anything dusty on her and I am a little confused on use of ivermectin. Is this box I have for cattle use what I am to use for her? It's says 1ml per 22lbs for cattle. She's a good size bird so I was going to give her a little les then half that. How long should I keep her away from her baby? I didn't find any on baby, but will check her over again. Thanks
I also have some poultry spray (permethrin). Maybe I should just treat her with that and let her free range for the day and babysit the chick
I used wood ash 2 days ago. When I checked her today I didn't find any around her vent area, I did see just a couple very small new hatch looking ones further over. I treated with vco, so we'll she in a couple of days.... But she looks much better! And I didn't find any nests
Re: ivomecrin. I have heard a couple of drops on the skin (part feathers to expose skin) one at vent and one under each wing. Permetherin is more natural but still effective. No mater the method, retreat in 10-14 days. I think I would treat the chick too because they could have lice as well. I might dilute the medicine whatever you choose (like only one drop on chick instead of three and I might not works so hard to get it on the skin but on the down would be good enough to me). I went ahead and treated chicks with poultry dust 3 weeks ago and they survived. I've never used ivomecrin or liquid permethrin yet.
CG
CG
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