Topic of the Week - Lice and Mites - Prevention and Treatments

[rottlady]

Pyrethrin is derived from African Chrysanthanums but many fleas and mites are becoming immune to it

y the Sawyers in the hunting department. It is not meant to touch human skin so wear gloves while applying. Some dog topicals contain permethrin (Advantix, Vectra 3D ) but I won't use them for my dogs because Permethrin is not for human skin so why would I pout it on my dog and thusly on my bird?

I use Permethrin to spray the buildings interior

 

[Folly's place]

Permethrin spray used according to label directions, is very easy and safe to use for chickens. And it works really well against lice and mites! Different species have different needs, product issues, and parasites. It's not useful to compare a feline to a canine, chicken, human, or whatever. "Different strokes for different folks" applies here. Mary

 

[Teila]

A couple of years back I experienced a severe mite infestation thanks to a visiting bush turkey. I will not go into details but suffice to say it was not pleasant and I never want to go through that again.

Because of that, I am paranoid about mites and lice

I now use a Permethrin based spray on the coop structure and roosts and Pestene Powder [Sulfur & Rotenone] on the nests.

The gals have multiple dust baths, one in the run and one outside. I do not treat them unless I see evidence of lice or mites but they would pick up some of the powder from the nests.

Touch wood, I have not had any further issues.

 

[kerbotx]

Signs - my hens were molting already, but I noticed one or two hens had dirty vent areas, where the fluffy feathers are, and one had a bare spot that looked quite red and irritated, and seemed to be staying that way. After dark, I removed her from the roost for an inspection, and she was crawling with lice, and in those dirty-looking feathers were the egg nits.

Products - Y-Tex GardStar Garden & Poultry Dust, from my local TSC. I bought 2 cans, treated all the birds, their roosts, the coop, and mixed some into their main dust bath area. (Probably overzealous since this was my first time.) Replaced nesting material. Removed as much of the spent feathers as I could. Repeated treatment 2 weeks later. I was not able to find a 'pest pistol/duster' at the time, so I improvised and used a generic condiment bottle! At the time of repeat treatment, I also decided to use Gordon's Permethrin 10 Livestock and Premise Spray on all other wood surfaces - exterior of coop, the covered/sheltered areas of run, other roosts and main outdoor hang-out spots.

As for a preventative, these pests can be spread by wild animals and wild birds, so I figure the best you can do is keep your coop clean and provide good dust bathing areas so the chickens keep themselves clean. Maybe treat coop/surfaces in Spring and Fall, in conjunction with a de-worming program?

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! I treat when I find mites or lice, and I do look at least monthly at least 25% of my flock. The cocks seem to be more affected sooner, but it varies. Hate those bugs! Mary

 

[thlynch3]

We use diotamaceus earth. You can either mix it with what you have for dust bathing area r apply it directly by rubbing a handful of it under the feathers.

 

[jamiekins1]

we use diatomaceous powder we try to stay as natural as possible and been doing for a yr now and never have had any problems. We have 4 hens and just added 8 more chicks this month to our heard

 

[woods79]

Being new to BYC this is good info thanks. When I built my coop I white washed the inside to help with prevention first thing and we also use diotamaceus earth in the coop. I give this warning though, anything that will harm bad bugs kill good ones so please use sparingly and one where you need to.

 

[chickengr]

white wash inside the coop and the roosts and permethrin powder on the roosts and birds. I use permethrin powder on dogs and cats as well.

 

[SunflowerTheBun]

I provide a dust bathing tray with a mixture of sand and ashes. If I've seen lice on one of the hens, I also add poultry dust (with pyrethrin).
For bad infestations, I treat the flock with ivermectin (applied directly to the skin at the back of their neck). I have read that ivermectin won't work for lice (or maybe it was mites?) but mine disappeared. Perhaps the dust bath got it under control.
I have not had to deal with northern red fowl mites, which I hear are more difficult to eliminate.

Oooh that's a good idea - to add the dust the the tray of sand and things. Thanks for the idea!