Mites or Louse/Lice Help?

[lindseyawest]

Hey all, so I've had my flock for about a month-month and a half. I have five pullets/cockerels. I clean the coop about once a week and today, for the second time since I've had my flock, I turned over the dirt in the run and sprinkled poultry/garden powder on the dirt. I also sprinkle the poultry dust in the coop about once a week when I change out the pine shavings in the coop. about a week-week and a half ago, I got some Orange Guard (http://orangeguard.net/) and sprayed it on the inside and outside of the coop. Today, I sprayed it again. When I first got my pullets/cockerels, I dusted them with the poultry dust. I did it again today.

However, while I was holding one of my pullets, I saw these yellow little things that were kind of oblong, like tiny grains of rice, start to surface from under the feathers a minute-ish after putting the poultry dust on her. I thought they were a type of mite, but after doing some research, it sounds like louse or lice (is there a difference)? She was the only one I saw these things on. I feel all creepy crawly now.

Is there something more I need to do to treat her and the rest of my flock? Guide me, please - I've never dealt with anything like this (I never even had lice as a kid so I've never dealt with lice period *knock on wood*).

Thanks!

P.S. I posted this in Managing Your Flock first, because I wasn't sure exactly where this one should go...

 

[boskelli1571]

Yup - you have lice!! They won't feed on you tho' - good news. So, you will need to dust weekly - birds, coop, perches, change bedding frequently - at least weekly.
My regime is this - poultry insecticidal dust on week # 1&3, DE on weeks # 2&4. Re-evaluate after 1 month.
If your birds free range, or you have wild birds near the coop, you will likely have lice pretty much year round. Keeping it under control is the key. Some folks recommend using Frontline on their birds - it is not approved for use in poultry, so use at your own risk. Good luck,