poultry lice on wound (warning: graphic photo)

[Daffodil12]

I posted a few days ago about gauze stuck to my hen's wound, and I was able to get it off, but now we're dealing with another crisis... poultry lice! I think that's what they are, anyway. I didn't notice anything yesterday, but when I cleaned out her wound today, I noticed some flat, tan insects around it (see picture). Seuss is not having a good week.

She hasn't been dust bathing for a week or so because of her injury, and even before that, she wasn't super active, since she's 10+ years old. I don't think the other hens have the lice, since she's been separated for a while and they all dust-bathe regularly. So I don't think there's an infestation in the coop, but I'm not sure what to do for her. I'm worried about using poultry dust or other pesticides (I've read on this forum that permethrin is pretty effective) because her wound is still raw. Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would get some Permethrin spray or dust and treat her asap.

Rinse off all those stuck lice with saline, betadine or chlorhexidine - that's what I would use to flush out a wound anyway.

It would be wise to go check the rest of your flock. Just because they take dust baths doesn't mean they don't have lice.

 

[Daffodil12]

The Permethrin wouldn't affect the wound?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The Permethrin wouldn't affect the wound?

Well, you aren't going to be soaking her with the Permethrin, just keep it out of the wound the best you can.
Spray or dust around/underneath the vent, then neck and wings.

 

[Daffodil12]

Right. Okay, thanks!