Turkeys & lice?

[Sanna]

I recently moved on a farm, brought my silkies with me and they are now living with the farms silkies. I discovered that the chickens at the farm had quite an infestation of lice. So it'll be bath time for them asap and a good coop cleaning etc..
Now the question is, not knowing anything about turkeys. The silkies have 3 turkeys for neighbors. I'm assuming the turkeys would have the lice also? I do not planning on throwing the turkeys in a tub of water and giving them a bath. Just not happening. What do you guys find to be the easiest and safest way to get rid of these pests on a turkey? Does a powder really do the job? Especially if they have all these eggs, as the silkies do?



That is what the silkies have. Lice are yellowish/brownish in color. Can't think of the name, but that's what the eggs look like.
I haven't had a close look at the turkeys yet, I till try to take a peek tomorrow if they let me.
If I am not mistaken, the pyrethrins will kill the buggers. Would it be totally stupid to spray the turkeys with a fly spray made for horses with pyrethrins? Not sure if a spray like that is safe for a bird. All I know is that my silkies had the lice a year ago and I got rid of them by bathing them and thoroughly cleaning the coop.

Any marvelous ideas for the turkeys for a non-turkey person?

 

[ivan3]

Do they roost inside? It is usually easier to check them after they go to roost. Pyrethrin spray or Eprinomectin (Eprinex Cattle pour-on) is probably the way to go. Dusting a turkey is no picnic, it is enough to stay upwind of them when they are dirt bathing. Spraying them after they go to roost might be a one person job, during the day, when they are active, a two person job.

Make sure they have an easily accessible area to dirt bathe in. The hens will spend quite a bit of time happily putting away and raising clouds of dust, the toms aren't as fastidious.

Some more info ( http://msucares.com/poultry/diseases/disparas.htm ).

 

[Sanna]

I think the boss and I will tackle (not literally) the turkeys during the day, or even sometime in the evening after work when it's quiet and all the farm visitors are gone. We should have all sorts of Pyrethrin sprays in the barn.
The turkeys do roost inside at night and like to have their dust baths outside during the day. Well, the girls mostly. Joes just watches them and ruffles his feathers.

That website was very helpful.
Thank you!