safe de-louser

[TeacupTwins]

3 of our 4 hens have lost all feathers on their bottoms - behind vent. If it's due to lice (will check out tomorrow), I'd like suggestions as to safest de-louser. Local store has Rotenone powder. Any advice on what, when, where, how much, appreciated.

 

[SeaChick]

We use DE (food grade diatomaceaous earth.. ONLY food grade, not the normal stuff) but more as a preventative. Not sure it works as a cure, can anyone comment? Super safe, though. We also put it in their feed!!!

 

[BJ]

We have used Adams flea and tick spray for dogs and cats. You need to make sure to clean out/spray the roosts, etc. The spray should hopefully kill the pest and keep them off the checkens.

 

[millhoff]

I have used promithian (sp?). It is a pesiside but didn't have a problem when I sprayed the chickens or the coop and it worked good. Picked it up at Tractor Supply.

 

[pips&peeps]

I have used permetherin spray also. If it is lice, it won't kill the eggs. You will need to spray once, wait 7-10 days and spray again and do it once more. Then check them over really well to see if you got 'em all.

It works to spray down the coop also. Make sure you get the roosts and any cracks in the walls, etc.

 

[pepperluvsmee]

I use SEVEN dust. I wear latex gloves and sprinkle a small pinch under each birds wings every spring.
I have never had any problems with it, but you must read the precautions on the bag for your own personal safety. It is a poison, as is flea and tick powder etc etc.
You can also check with your vet!
-Theresa

 

[Poison Ivy]

I use Ivomec on my birds and don't have a problem with mite,lice or worms. I just did all my new birds I bought this past week.

http://shilala.homestead.com/ivomec.html

 

[pips&peeps]

Ivomec will not kill some types of lice. It only kills biting insects that take blood meals.

If you have the fluff louse or common head louse you will have to spray.

So I guess you will need to determine what kind of pest you have.

 

[treeclimber233]

Quote:
which kind of spray do you use: water based or regular? I have been told to only use the water based but nobody around here carries that type. They only carry the regular. I have to ask someone to special order it for me and sometimes they "forget" for several weeks.

 

[Michael Apple]

I am having a hell of a time with mites this year. A little over a month ago I noticed some mites on a few hens so I dusted all my chickens with ProZap(permethrin), cleaned out both coops entirely & sprayed them down with Permectrin2, another permethrin based spray, then put new pine shavings in. I checked them 10 days later, still more mites so I dusted with Seven hoping it would be more effective than permethrin.

A week later I still noticed mites on them. Having reservations about using stronger chemicals led me to doing some research & decided to use Eprinex, a type of Ivermectin. I followed a vet's instructions accordingly & 2 weeks after the topical treatment, I found 3 of my hens were just covered with mites. That was today. I took each one in the house, rinsed them with the showerhead & there were what seemed to be billions of mites coming off each of them, towel dried them really well & sparingly sprayed around their vents using Frontline spray ( advised by a poultryman I met who swears by it ).

I also put a spritz on the back of the neck, center back, lower back & under each wing. Every other bird had nowhere near the amount of mites the 3 birds I had to rinse off did. Just to be safe, I used RAVAP on the coops
again while the litter is in them & was sure to get the roosts really well. I payed close attention to the nests even though I change the shavings & use Seven about every two weeks.

If anyone has experienced this recurring nightmare of mites & has found a good program to prevent future infestations I would appreciate your feedback. I have used DE before as well & have found it to about as ineffective as permethrin powders. I am thinking I might have to treat the entire yard with a premise spray, however they free range during most of the day.