Preventing Mites and Lice?

[Robert Kazlauski]

The idea of mites and lice infecting your flock is so scary. It sounds as if it is easy to become infected and very, very difficult to eliminate it. I guess the best way of dealing with the issue is to implement a preventative measure. So, my question is........ what is the best product to use in the coop and run to prevent lice and mites?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The idea of mites and lice infecting your flock is so scary. It sounds as if it is easy to become infected and very, very difficult to eliminate it. I guess the best way of dealing with the issue is to implement a preventative measure. So, my question is........ what is the best product to use in the coop and run to prevent lice and mites?

You'll get a lot of opinions.

I spray my coop/housing about every quarter with a Permethrin based poultry spray. If needed, I dust birds with a Permethrin based poultry dust.

Rodents and wild birds can be vectors for bringing in External Parasites, so do what you can to keep the rodent population down and deter wild birds from entering housing/coops/runs. Rodents can be a challenge, they will populate quickly, so try to stay on top of that.

Others use Elector PSP and find it to be very effective too. I've never used it, so can't say, but would assume you'd use it to treat birds and housing.

 

[Robert Kazlauski]

So, do you remove your chickens while spraying? Is it harmful if they get sprayed? Does this come as a liquid and powder? Can you sprinkle the powder in the coop and run? How effective is it? Does it do the job?

 

[Perris]

The idea of mites and lice infecting your flock is so scary. It sounds as if it is easy to become infected and very, very difficult to eliminate it. I guess the best way of dealing with the issue is to implement a preventative measure. So, my question is........ what is the best product to use in the coop and run to prevent lice and mites?

Mites and lice are not a problem for wild birds (unless and until they are really sick or injured). So maybe the best preventative measure is not to lock up your birds in a small space and a wooden coop in which mites and lice can thrive and take over.

 

[Robert Kazlauski]

Mites and lice are not a problem for wild birds (unless and until they are really sick or injured). So maybe the best preventative measure is not to lock up your birds in a small space and a wooden coop in which mites and lice can thrive and take over.

Interesting. But I need to protect fluffy silkies from rain, snow and the cold.

 

[Perris]

Interesting. But I need to protect fluffy silkies from rain, snow and the cold.

Silkie feathering isn't suited to most environments. You know your climate and weather patterns (you don't give your location so the rest of us can't advise to suit). I imagine there are lots of birds that live there in winter, even if the delicate types like silkies migrate somewhere warmer for winter. Perhaps investigating how they live in your winters might reveal some pointers.