Severe Lice???? Help!

[ThornyRidge]

I have only a couple chickens that seem affected by this and I am guessing it is related to severe lice infestatioins..I have an old (8.5 years old) Barred Rock Hen that has literally pulled her feathers out of her chest and around her wing areas.. she is bald. and then I have a EE Roo that looks horrible.. he is bald around his tail/vent and on his chest/wing area.. neither are molting. I see the BR hen constantly preening and picking at her feathers.. the roos skin appears really red looking also.. outside of this both are eating and are healthy.. what is the best course of treatment.. as there are other chickens in with them that are not showing any outward signs like these two. Is dusting that effective? and is there a course of something oral that would help too?? these two look horrible and I really would like to get them back to looking like chickens!!!! I recently cleaned out my coops too.. stripped of beddings and swept out.. replaced with new pine/oak shavings.

 

[popcornpuppy]

I have heard many great things about food grade d.e. for getting rid of many different kinds of pests. Here is a website that can provide you with more info about the product, such as what it does how much to use and how to apply or administer it.
http://wolfcreekranch1.tripod.com/index.html

 

[Judy]

You did not mention whether you actually saw signs of lice and mites. If you did, you will probably want to use more than DE. They will need something like a permethrin/pyrethrin spray, Sevin 5% or ivermectin. They will have to be treated again in 10-14 days, and the entire coop will have to be treated. De is useful as part of a preventive program, though.

Here age a couple of good resources:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=123057

http://www.oznet.ksu.edu/library/lvstk2/mf2387.pdf

 

[theswede]

I have been here before. If you can't see any by looking at them you will definitely find them if you pick one up!! You did right by cleaning out the pen, but I used Seven dust in the coop and around the coop, also give your birds a good rub with it. Be sure to either do the same with your other birds or keep them seperate for about a week, or they will just go from the sick ones to the others. I know using chemicals is not the greatest of thoughts but is needed. Sorry your having this problem, but it will probably happen again down the road.