What to do about Lice?

[CuzChickens]

Well, it took me 4 hours, but I finally caught and dusted all 35. So glad that is done. I will be keeping DE and wood ash in the dust baths from now on. This morning I did not see a single louse!

 

[CluckerCottage]

glad to hear of your success!
i love wood ash and DE for keeping those buggars under control.
make sure to dust every nest box, roost bar, crack and crevice in your coop and clean out the shavings.
best wishes!

 

[CuzChickens]

I just cleaned the coop and I am about to go dust it with DE and put some DE in the dust bathing area.

 

[casportpony]

FYI, Dominion Dusting Powder is Canada's version of 5% Sevin, both are 5% carbaryl. In the US, carbaryl is no longer approved for use in poultry, but I'm not sure why.

Glad the DE is working for you, cause I tried it and it did not treat lice on m birds.

A dusting powder that is approved for use in poultry here in the US is permethrin.

-Kathy

Edited to add:
@Folly's place , do you know why carbaryl is no longer approved for use in poultry?

 

[CuzChickens]

FYI, Dominion Dusting Powder is Canada's version of 5% Sevin, both are 5% carbaryl. In the US, carbaryl is no longer approved for use in poultry, but I'm not sure why.

Glad the DE is working for you, cause I tried it and it did not treat lice on m birds.

A dusting powder that is approved for use in poultry here in the US is permethrin.

-Kathy

Edited to add:
@Folly's place

Do you know why carbaryl is no longer approved for use in poultry?

Thanks for the answer!! I looked today, and out of the 10 hens I checked, I saw five lice. Grrrrr. I put DE on the roosts, and liberally in the bottom of the coop, nesting boxes, and dust baths. I am determined to get rid of these lice naturally if it is the last thing I do.

 

[casportpony]

Quote: Be sure to check every square in of them, because there are many types of poultry lice, and they live on different parts of the chicken. Some like under the wing, some like the thigh, and the type my peafowl like the eyes and ears.

-Kathy

 

[CuzChickens]

Oh, geez. I think the only kind I have are the ones that like the vent, tail, and under wings, but I will be checking the other places in the morning. So tired of this.

 

[casportpony]

Oh, geez. I think the only kind I have are the ones that like the vent, tail, and under wings, but I will be checking the other places in the morning. So tired of this.

They can be really hard to see. If you want to know how well your DE is working, take one hen that appears to have no lice, then dust her with a permethrin dust, place in box on white paper towels, cover box, come back in 30-40 minutes to checks for bugs on paper towel. If your DE is working, you won't find any bugs.

-Kathy

 

[casportpony]

Oh, geez. I think the only kind I have are the ones that like the vent, tail, and under wings, but I will be checking the other places in the morning. So tired of this.

UC Davis did a study on mites/lice in backyard flocks and found that it was common to have many types at the same time.

-Kathy

 

[CuzChickens]

DON'T TELL ME THAT!!!!!!!! Well, I guess I will be doing a thorough check tomorrow, what happens if you just don't treat it? Do they get really sick?