Louse mites

[athgus2802]

Ive discovered louse mites on one of my hens. I have now treated both hens and Coop with a appropriate spray. Someone mentioned that after treating hens with a insecticide you shouldn't eat there eggs for a few wks after treatment. Just wondering others experience?? Thanks for any feedback

 

[Pine Hill Farms]

Try diatomaceous earth, or bath the chickens and clean coop chemical free next time. I'd wait a few days before eating eggs.pesticides are absorbed into the body through skin, in the air or by mouth as they preen

 

[athgus2802]

Thank you. These are our 1st hens so i am still learning alot. Will definitely be chking regularly now. How long does it take for the base of feather to be free of eggs sacks, do they just drop of the shaft of the feather??

 

[Pine Hill Farms]

Not quite sure, I haven't used the spray,I usually dust regularly. If I do have a problem a bath usually is the fastest way to rid them of everything. Maybe someone else will chime in on that. You're doing great for being a beginner, some people wouldn't have even noticed they had an issue! I bath in iodine soap or dish soap seems to do the trick

 

[athgus2802]

I am in Australia and haven't heard of either of these soaps? The base of these soap is iodine then? Thanks for ur help. I really hope someone can tell me what happens with all the sacks on feather shaft... Please anyone.

 

[Pine Hill Farms]

I don't think eggs will fall off. They'll hatch in 7 days, so you'll need to treat twice in seven day increments. Idea is those that hatch can't reproduce, so in two weeks or so you'll break life cycle. We had a vet tell us iodine kills everything once when we were dealing with horse lice. Mix iodine with water until it looks the color of weak tea. Then rinse them in it. You can use regular dish washing soap too. If it's just a few feathers and you're not showing your birds you could cut the heavily infested feathers. Usually the vent area is where you'll find the most eggs/mites.

 

[athgus2802]

Well Ive just successfully washed my first ever chicken. Alot of the eggs come off some needed a bit of help. A few are still there. Will spray again on the 7th day. Thanks for your advice..

 

[Pine Hill Farms]

Lol!!! Surprisingly they seem to like it! The UPS and mail carrier caught me bathing chickens once! Should have seen the look on their faces! Had an old hen with an old leg injury caused arthritis, she loved warm bath soaks! Hope all turns out well for you and your girls!

 

[MrsBachbach]

The warm water relaxes them so much that they will literally sink into the water and drown if it is deep enough! Have to make sure you keep a hand under them is what I found out. They love the warm blow dryer too!

 

[athgus2802]

Well i am not sure if she loved it but it didnt go too badly. She is now enjoying having a ash/dirt bath in the sun.