mites or lice?!?!!?

[bkterry]

I have a black jersey giant pullet, and when I picked her up today I noticed that she had white eggs all in the feathers of her neck. I'm not sure if they are lice or mite eggs, but there is clump of eggs on each feather and they are like glued on! I did find one or two bugs on her body but I don't know how to tell if they are mites or lice. I've heard you can use sevin dust on them but I wanted to know if anyone has any tips, suggestions, special instructions, or precautions before I try to use it on my flock.

 

[LynneP]

I hope Miss Prissy sees this and will elaborate. It's my understanding from one of her posts that if you mix diatomaceous earth (food grade) and Sevin dust in the foot of a sock or panty hose that you can plop your hen on your lap to treat the vent area, and then dust under her wings, and on her neck to get the dust distributed.

I'd like to add that you'll need to treat your coop/run if you're finding the eggs.

 

[bkterry]

Okay, we investigated last night after I first posted and we have figured out that it is chicken lice that she has. We are going to clean the coop and dust the chickens today. Is sevin dust in anyway harmful to the chickens???

 

[miss_thenorth]

I believe its a chemical, so yes, but the lice i think would be more harmful to your chickens

 

[MissPrissy]

Sevin dust has been safely used to treat poultry for many years. Dust the chickens and kill the lice. Clean the coop and dust it too.

 

[bkterry]

Thanks for the advice everyone!!

I'm headed out to dust them right now...just wanted to make sure that I do it right so I don't lose a chicken or anything.