Technique for dusting chickens

[Sussex19]

I'm in the process of treating for lice, using a pyrethrum and sulphur dust.
How do you go about dusting them?
It seems very hard getting it under the the feathers, in the moment I'm resting them on their sides, and parting a patch of feathers.
This means that it goes on in patches, so I'm not sure its getting on all the lice.

 

[SpiritWolf]

I'm in the process of treating for lice, using a pyrethrum and sulphur dust.
How do you go about dusting them?
It seems very hard getting it under the the feathers, in the moment I'm resting them on their sides, and parting a patch of feathers.
This means that it goes on in patches, so I'm not sure its getting on all the lice.

I use Diatomaceous Earth for dusting my chickens. I just put a pile of it in the area I see them taking a dirt bath. It's also what I use on red ants, roaches and for fleas and ticks on puppies and kittens under 8 weeks old. It's one of the best things I've for getting rid of the pest.

 

[Sussex19]

I use Diatomaceous Earth for dusting my chickens. I just put a pile of it in the area I see them taking a dirt bath. It's also what I use on red ants, roaches and for fleas and ticks on puppies and kittens under 8 weeks old. It's one of the best things I've for getting rid of the pest.

This is interesting, I've heard a lot of different opinions on DE.
But I'm not sure if one can buy it here, so I'll probably stick with what I've got.

 

[SpiritWolf]

This is interesting, I've heard a lot of different opinions on DE.
But I'm not sure if one can buy it here, so I'll probably stick with what I've got.

I buy it on Amazon and sometimes at the local feed store. When they have it on sale.

 

[rosemarythyme]

What I did when I dusted for mites was I used a cat litter box with a lid, and dusted the birds generously inside the litter box, working it into the feathers best I could. So when I released them they'd shake right after, and the dust cloud of pesticide would redistribute itself on each bird inside the box.

 

[Folly's place]

And wear your N95 dust mask while doing all this!

 

[rosemarythyme]

And wear your N95 dust mask while doing all this!

Gloves too!

 

[Ozarkoak]

What I did when I dusted for mites was I used a cat litter box with a lid, and dusted the birds generously inside the litter box, working it into the feathers best I could. So when I released them they'd shake right after, and the dust cloud of pesticide would redistribute itself on each bird inside the box.

For some reason it reminded me of the old shake and bake commercial. Put them in and give em a shake

 

[Sussex19]

What I did when I dusted for mites was I used a cat litter box with a lid, and dusted the birds generously inside the litter box, working it into the feathers best I could. So when I released them they'd shake right after, and the dust cloud of pesticide would redistribute itself on each bird inside the box.

This sounds good, except that I don't have an enclosed litter box.
Could one use a cardboard box or something in stead?

 

[rosemarythyme]

This sounds good, except that I don't have an enclosed litter box.
Could one use a cardboard box or something in stead?

Maybe? As long as the birds can comfortably fit inside when it's closed up. Obvious advantage of the litter box is the generous fat cat width opening to easily put birds in/take them out.