mites or lice around anus of my hen...

[Huehueboy]

A few question to be answered please if you may?

So i feel pretty good about keeping my hens healthy and up to par, however as i was cleaning their coop today, i noticed that one hen had lots of poop stuck to her back feathers (around her bum). i started to clean and snip some hind feathers and noticed some lice looking things. On some of her feathers there were egg looking things stuck to the base of the feathers as well. Long story short, how did i get these mites or lice. I clean there coop and run often enough and have straw or hay down in the run, I scatter the DE routinely all over, in the run, coop and laying boxes. Non of the other hens have the problem. It seems to be only around her anus. They have access to my garden, dirt and sand pits for bathing. They look and seem to be healthy as far as i can by visual observation. food and water are always filled and clean. They have a large area to roam ( i don't let them out on my grass due to them tearing it up and also sitting at my back door waiting for us to come and pooping a lot at the back door.

I read that lavender along with some other essential oils can be sprayed on them a few times a week on top of the feathers and it helps. Does any one know about that? what are your remedies of fixing the mite/lice issue? Do i need to change how i care for the hens some way?

The other question, how often do you clean the coop? Do you pressure washer it completely? only scrape the poop off, wash it down with soap? I usually scrape the poop off and put new sand/dirt down, scatter DE everywhere and change out the hay if its looking bad or broken down. Does any one wear a mask when doing so? Man, today was bad. Chicken poop smells if there is a lot. Is that normal? What kind of mask do you wear if you do?

Im open to anything! Please let me know what you know in taking care of my hens.

Thanks so much.

 

[micstrachan]

I think you will need to use permethrin (dust or spray, I think) to kill the lice. A second treatment may be needed later to kill the new lice when they hatch from the nits.
Unfortunately, a major cleaning of the coop, plus treatment with thecsame spray or dust, will be in order.
There may be a withdrawl period for eating the eggs. Ivam sure someone more knowledgeable on the subject will answer soon.

 

[blakeee]

I definitely suggest Pyrethren. Pretty sure you can get powder from any pet shop (flea based powder containing pyrethren works) but I almost always use a diluted liquid from the vets. I spray and then scrub through to the skin. I only use lightly because it can be quite irritating. So maybe go with the powder. Cheaper too. I would do it whenever you see the mites/lice.
Good luck! Hope this works!

 

[blakeee]

Treat quickly before it spreads. Sometimes these things happen when they've come across an area that has mites or maybe flies spread them? Not sure about that haha. Seems like you're doing well with keeping the area tidy and if it's not happening with your other hens then I don't see a reason to change your routine. But it's easier to have pyrethren on hand for when things like this happen.
Also, I can't say I wear a mask when cleaning the coop. I just take a deep breath and wish for the best haha. I just scrape the poo off and change hay. I don't scrub or spray with soap or anything. I've never really had any issues.

 

[micstrachan]

Oh, whoops! So it’s pyrethrin, not permethrin? I was kinda shooting from the hip. Thanks for clarifying. I actually have a bottle on hand just in case, but forgot the exact name.

 

[Brahma Chicken5000]

I use this spray on my chickens to prevent and get rid of mites.

 

[blakeee]

Oh, whoops! So it’s pyrethrin, not permethrin? I was kinda shooting from the hip. Thanks for clarifying. I actually have a bottle on hand just in case, but forgot the exact name.

I love it! I live on a sheep property and it works wonders for getting rid of flies and maggots causing flystrike. I use the powder for the more delicate animals with mites like the kangaroos (I am also a wildlife carer). I reckon anyone with animals should have it on hand. Only thing is it can expire quickly

 

[Huehueboy]

thanks so much guys. always so helpful.

 

[sourland]

Good suggestions already provided. Wild birds were most likely the source of the mites/lice. Their presence had nothing to do with your husbandry practices. Good luck eliminating them.