Permethrin spray

[EggSighted4Life]

I live in Idaho and we had a very wet winter but no rain all summer long. I have been fighting lice all summer. Today I did a Permethrin 10% drench on everyone. Wet chickens, in 99 degree weather dry in about 30 minutes. I think there is an infestation going on possibly brought in by the wild quail(that I absolutely adore), they share dirt bathing pits. I guess this is going to have to come to an end. I don't feed the wild quail, but lately they just get into the pen and eat the chickens food. Some of my hens have feathers that look just like the prev. post's picture. The 1 1/2 year old hens are all molting ( I think) and there are feathers everywhere. I noticed today that some of the loose feathers on the ground have nits at the bottom of them. I really need to break this cycle.

Hi, welcome to BYC!

That previous pic was mine. The bird also about 1.5 years so raggedy looking. I think the birds nearing first molt show the most evidence of parasite activity, or at least it seems more obvious on them. Much of her damage was caused by mating. That pic is supposed to represent that the permethrin actually works... because the vet couldn't find any CURRENT evidence. But said their had probably previously been lice. But also I was getting rid of a cockerel the same day the vet declared her free from bugs and the boy very clearly had some skin irritation with some sort of bugs crawling around his vent on his way out the door. Which we treated with permethrin and watched them die instantly. So my original point, a couple weeks back when I couldn't get the pic to post was just because 1 bird APPEARS to be good, don't give the others a free pass without checking.

Note, I don't expect her feathers to look better until she molts.

I have wondered about treating dirt bathes with this stuff, if you have no way to actually deter the quail. My real issue with that is that my birds walk away wearing most the dirt still and holes actually turn into chasms that need to be filled with fresh dirt. But I might try it to treat the wild population and help to get my own under control if I thought it would really help.

I haven't been too uptight about removing extra feather debris... but I also haven't seen any nits on the bases. I'm glad to hear that you CAN see them on the feathers that had them before coming out. I was thinking that molting is PROBABLY one way nature combats these parasites... and also considered, "should I not treat my molting birds since they may already be taking care of it?". Ultimately I decided that what I am treating for is *maybe* more of a skin condition than a feather condition and even if it was feathers, no guarantee the effected feathers would be the ones to molt out. So if I need to treat I won't let the presence of molting change that decision.

With lice, the best thing is... you can actually see them! It helps to drive home the importance of keeping the feather debris cleaned up despite what I don't see in order to help maintain flock health and resistance.

Follow the directions for reapplication. And spray your lay boxes and whatever else with in reason that you can. It may be difficult, but I'm sure you can break the cycle!

 

[chickengeorgeto]

When it comes to spraying for lice and mites always treat each and every bird so that there is no residual pest population to develop immunity.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

Good question! The directions call for a very small amount of spray per bird; 1/2 ounce. Maybe powder then? We just sprayed on the birds on their roosts. It's a trial run, so details later. Mary

Treat your birds as soon as it is fully dark then by the time the Sun comes up they are dry.

 

[Folly's place]

Update; I had spray already diluted, in a plastic bottle, from last year. When we used it last month, it wasn't as effective as it was last year. It needs to be mixed fresh, and not stored in a plastic sprayer! Mary

 

[aart]

Update; I had spray already diluted, in a plastic bottle, from last year. When we used it last month, it wasn't as effective as it was last year. It needs to be mixed fresh, and not stored in a plastic sprayer! Mary

I was just wondering about that the other day.
Figured it might be better to remix a fresh batch.
Tho luckily I don't need it, lice seem to have finally be gone,
plus it's too cold to spray birds skin IMO.

 

[casportpony]

I was just wondering about that the other day.
Figured it might be better to remix a fresh batch.
Tho luckily I don't need it, lice seem to have finally be gone,
plus it's too cold to spray birds skin IMO.

Someone that uses soluble powdered permetrin mentioned that it has a short shelf life once mixed and that they make a fresh batch each time they use it.

 

[KristinS]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

That previous pic was mine. The bird also about 1.5 years so raggedy looking. I think the birds nearing first molt show the most evidence of parasite activity, or at least it seems more obvious on them. Much of her damage was caused by mating. That pic is supposed to represent that the permethrin actually works... because the vet couldn't find any CURRENT evidence. But said their had probably previously been lice. But also I was getting rid of a cockerel the same day the vet declared her free from bugs and the boy very clearly had some skin irritation with some sort of bugs crawling around his vent on his way out the door. Which we treated with permethrin and watched them die instantly. So my original point, a couple weeks back when I couldn't get the pic to post was just because 1 bird APPEARS to be good, don't give the others a free pass without checking.

Note, I don't expect her feathers to look better until she molts.

I have wondered about treating dirt bathes with this stuff, if you have no way to actually deter the quail. My real issue with that is that my birds walk away wearing most the dirt still and holes actually turn into chasms that need to be filled with fresh dirt. But I might try it to treat the wild population and help to get my own under control if I thought it would really help.

I haven't been too uptight about removing extra feather debris... but I also haven't seen any nits on the bases. I'm glad to hear that you CAN see them on the feathers that had them before coming out. I was thinking that molting is PROBABLY one way nature combats these parasites... and also considered, "should I not treat my molting birds since they may already be taking care of it?". Ultimately I decided that what I am treating for is *maybe* more of a skin condition than a feather condition and even if it was feathers, no guarantee the effected feathers would be the ones to molt out. So if I need to treat I won't let the presence of molting change that decision.

With lice, the best thing is... you can actually see them! It helps to drive home the importance of keeping the feather debris cleaned up despite what I don't see in order to help maintain flock health and resistance.

Follow the directions for reapplication. And spray your lay boxes and whatever else with in reason that you can. It may be difficult, but I'm sure you can break the cycle!

Wow am I way behind! I know it was last summer but I figured I would update. Since the Permethrin 10% drench bath, my chickens have NO lice! I only treated them once and the knits and everything are gone. My chickens continued to molt and are now fully feathered and super pretty!

 

[Kiki]

Wow am I way behind! I know it was last summer but I figured I would update. Since the Permethrin 10% drench bath, my chickens have NO lice! I only treated them once and the knits and everything are gone. My chickens continued to molt and are now fully feathered and super pretty!

I am glad to hear everything is all better for you and your birds!
Thanks for the update.

 

[BantyChooks]

I sprayed my birds with the diluted 30something percent recently, and it worked beautifully! Not a single louse on any bird so far, and it was so easy to treat the coop too.

 

[room onthebroom]

Hello. Following.