Wondering how to treat lice

[CrazyChickenLady]

Just wanted to say that from closer inspection today (because I had one crawling on my face...YUCK!)...I believe me Plymouth Barred Rock hen has a lice infestastion. I want to head out to the store to buy something to treat her and to treat the rest of my flock. I would and need some suggestions on what to buy....I want to get right to the problem. I have some DE on order....but in the meantime I need something quick and powerful. Also, the same hen has that air bubble I mentioned before...after soaking her today with warm water....the bubble takes over her entire breast area....it's like a big balloon under her feathers. I can't find any information on this.

Beth (mother to 6 daughters with another baby girl on the way, mum to 4 dogs, 5 cats, and 29 chickens)

 

[dlhunicorn]

this "bubble...does it feel like air or is it fluid?
To quickly and safely treat for mites/lice you can go to the petstore and get a sray for cage birds ... or for pigeons... be sure and treat the coop and nesting boxes (clear out all nesting material shavings etc. and treat with a good antiparasitic agent such as a permethrin/pyrethrin based one making sure no feed or water source is near when you do so)

 

[CrazyChickenLady]

Hi....the mystery bubble feels like it is filled with air. Sometimes I can hear a sight gurgling noise coming from what seems to be the bubble. Any ideas?

 

[dlhunicorn]

it might be sour crop from crop stasis (this will often be gaseous) but it might also be an air pocket from a small puncture to an airsac...read about that at the link provided below... if it were me and I was unable to definitively distinguish between the two I would take the bird to a vet... if it is sourcrop then you will need something like nystatin and would need to get that from a vet anyway...
http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=emergencies&action=display&num=1161887881
Air sac trauma

http://dlhunicorn.conforums.com/index.cgi?board=emergencies&action=display&num=1161893898
Sour Crop/Crop Stasis articles

 

[seedcorn]

For the lice, if you can find any, use nicotine from tobacco. They use to sell a liquid form that you just dipped a feather into and put some by their vent. Lice gone immediatley. Of course the coop smells like they've been in an all night poker party.........