What's the best for managing mites and lice

[velvet13]

I have always used DE but now I can't get it anymore so I have been using delousing powder with carbaryl but it is getting expensive and our coop has a dirt floor so treating the coop is almost pointless. I have heard of people using horse wormer in the water for worming, would this work for lice and mites as well or maybe something else that I could use regularly.

 

[SunHwaKwon]

Are they coming down with lice and mites that frequently? I think most people just use poultry dust or similar products (permethrin).

 

[Rob Tof]

I have always used DE but now I can't get it anymore so I have been using delousing powder with carbaryl but it is getting expensive and our coop has a dirt floor so treating the coop is almost pointless. I have heard of people using horse wormer in the water for worming, would this work for lice and mites as well or maybe something else that I could use regularly.

I buy mine on line de

 

[velvet13]

Are they coming down with lice and mites that frequently? I think most people just use poultry dust or similar products (permethrin).

yes they have lice and I am taking care of chickens that were brought here from a wildfire evacuation that had terrible scaly mites, they are recovery but are not quite better yet and with the dirt floor of the coop I would need to buy an awful lot of powder to cover the area at $25+tax/bottle it just doesn't seem feasible

 

[velvet13]

I should add that they are all free ranging and have plenty of access to natural dust bathing outside but I just don't think it will be managed with being unable to treat the coop efficiently so I would like something, if possible, that I could treat them with on a regular basis without dusting each one individually all the time, considering the cost and time involved with that.

 

[chicks are life]

De killed my one of my favorite birdeys!!!!!!


Get permethrin its a liquid lastes LONG and kills mites and lice instantly!!!!!!

Any dust irritates a chickens lungs-there lungs are very sensitive!!

 

[XanderWiFi]

Hey there. Did you ever find a good replacement? I am a new owner and have been looking for something inexpensive but effective to treat their run and coop for prevention.

 

[aart]

yes they have lice and I am taking care of chickens that were brought here from a wildfire evacuation that had terrible scaly mites, they are recovery but are not quite better yet and with the dirt floor of the coop I would need to buy an awful lot of powder to cover the area at $25+tax/bottle it just doesn't seem feasible

Lice and scaly leg mites only live on the bird, so not much sense in treating the whole coop and the floor. I've found this to work great for lice:
http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1134783/permethrin-spray

Can help with scaly mites too but I prefer to suffocate them with bag balm.

Hey there. Did you ever find a good replacement? I am a new owner and have been looking for something inexpensive but effective to treat their run and coop for prevention.

Overuse of insecticides can cause resistance, then they won't work when you really need them. Only treat when you have seen and positively ID'd a parasite.
Regular bug checks are good to do:

Best done well after dark with a strong flashlight/headlight, easier to 'catch' bird and also to check for the mites that live in structure and only come out at night to feed off roosting birds.

Wipe a white paper towel along the underside of roost to look for red smears(smashed well fed mites).

Part the feathers right down to the skin around vent, head/neck and under wings.

Google images of lice/mites and their eggs before the inspection so you'll know what you're looking for.

 

[XanderWiFi]

Thanks for the info aart!

 

[velvet13]

thanks, I didn't realise that the coop would not harbour the parasites, that makes things a lot easier. You are right about the development of resistance to insecticides, I really hope to be able to get DE again, there was a recall from the supplier in our area so hopefully there will be something safe soon.