My chickens have lice!!!

MCchickies said:

I just ask my the vet I work with and searched up some stuff she can order in - she’s not too familiar with chickens so she doesn’t know what would be safe. I’ve attached some photos below let me know your thoughts

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MCchickies said:

What product would that be regarding?

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Yours, I think it will be fine.

Permethrin works well. We clean coop and thoroughly spray everything. Add fresh litter, then we close coop.

Catch chickens 1x1 with helper. Hold upside down, spray vent, between legs, under wings. Then put into clean coop. Repeat in 7-10 days to get the lice that have hatched.

nuthatched said:

Yours, I think it will be fine.

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The on guard? I’ve also ordered the lice away from my vet that will be arriving on Monday.

Acre4Me said:

Permethrin works well. We clean coop and thoroughly spray everything. Add fresh litter, then we close coop.

Catch chickens 1x1 with helper. Hold upside down, spray vent, between legs, under wings. Then put into clean coop. Repeat in 7-10 days to get the lice that have hatched.

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Yes I’m so far cleaning the coop everyday just to keep everything clean, they definitely are a lot perkier and less irritated after I bathed them yesterday. The only thing that sucks in Canada is I can’t find any high concentrated permethrin so I’ll work with what I can order in I leave for Newfoundland in 2 weeks so hopefully I can have everything under control by the time I leave

It's easiest to spray the birds at night, while they are roosting. Use a flashlight or a head lamp, do each bird, and the coop. Much less drama in the dark!
Mary

Folly's place said:

It's easiest to spray the birds at night, while they are roosting. Use a flashlight or a head lamp, do each bird, and the coop. Much less drama in the dark!
Mary

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Surprisingly they’re all really good with handling but if I run into any issues I’ll definitely use this tip

And wear at least a N95 face mask, long sleeves, gloves, everything. the pesticide is for the birds, not you!
Mary

MCchickies said:

Yesterday at my weekly cleaning I did my check over my chickens and notice my chickens have lice. I gave them a bath yesterday to help sooth in the meantime before I can get anything for treatment.

I’m going to pickup a dust bath from my local feed store, and just ordered permethrin (liquid) and diatomaceous earth. I was going to order Elector PSP but the website doesn’t have it in stock….

I have a picture below of the permethrin I’ve ordered does this look okay for spraying my chickens and spraying all over the coop? It will be arriving today.

My black silkie is also acting very nice lately, usually he pecks me whenever I go near him but yesterday there was no pecking at all, I’m assuming it’s because he’s getting the blood sucked out of him - is there anything I can get/give to him to perk him back up to his normal pecking self again? (He seems to have the worst lice, noticeable eggs on beard)

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Acre4Me said:

With 1.0%, then they would add 50mL per 1/4 gallon to get your dilution.

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Update: I sprayed the chickens last night (I might have over sprayed them) they’re all happy tho eating, running around, scratching. The product was very oily I ended up using the lice off that I ordered from my vet I diluted it but I don’t think it really did anything since the product was so oily it separated.

Any ways immediately after I sprayed them I could see the lice was dead so that’s a good thing! I’m gonna bathe them tonight to get all the residue off because they’re so oily. And re spray them Before I go to Newfoundland in 10 days (not over spray this time)

MCchickies said:

Update: I sprayed the chickens last night (I might have over sprayed them) they’re all happy tho eating, running around, scratching. The product was very oily I ended up using the lice off that I ordered from my vet I diluted it but I don’t think it really did anything since the product was so oily it separated.

Any ways immediately after I sprayed them I could see the lice was dead so that’s a good thing! I’m gonna bathe them tonight to get all the residue off because they’re so oily. And re spray them Before I go to Newfoundland in 10 days (not over spray this time)

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That’s great! I’m glad the lice died.

We’ve washed many chickens. Normally you do not want to wash chickens bc off their natural oils. However, sometimes, like now (for you), you need to. For us, most of our chicken washing happens at fair the day before the chicken judging. Here’s a few tidbits on washing chickens.

1. Buy NO fragrance. Chickens respiratory systems are sensitive.

2. Buy LOW sudsing. I tried out a few products. As it happened, the first year we washed chickens the previous owners of our house left behind an all-natural baby bottle cleanser (found in the baby aisle at Walmart). It’s like a dish detergent but very mild, low sudsing, no fragrance. It worked the best and was easy to rinse out bc of the low sudsing. So, check out what you have, ask friends what they have.

3. Blow dry the chickens (they actually love this part, even if they hated the bath). First wrap in a towel to blot dry the chicken. Then blow dry their under feathers bc they will get chilled and these under feathers do not dry very well in their own. So, between legs, legs, under wings, and bellies need blow drying at a minimum.

4. Fill up your wash tub fairly full so water is mid way up their body. This helps to make the job quicker. Have a helper if possible, they will try to get out. But, a firm hold on their back works well.

5 have a rinse tub. Also helps to move the process faster. You may need to refresh the rinse water depending on number of chickens. We usually get 3-4 chickens done before replacing rinse water.

Acre4Me said:

That’s great! I’m glad the lice died.

We’ve washed many chickens. Normally you do not want to wash chickens bc off their natural oils. However, sometimes, like now (for you), you need to. For us, most of our chicken washing happens at fair the day before the chicken judging. Here’s a few tidbits on washing chickens.

1. Buy NO fragrance. Chickens respiratory systems are sensitive.

2. Buy LOW sudsing. I tried out a few products. As it happened, the first year we washed chickens the previous owners of our house left behind an all-natural baby bottle cleanser (found in the baby aisle at Walmart). It’s like a dish detergent but very mild, low sudsing, no fragrance. It worked the best and was easy to rinse out bc of the low sudsing. So, check out what you have, ask friends what they have.

3. Blow dry the chickens (they actually love this part, even if they hated the bath). First wrap in a towel to blot dry the chicken. Then blow dry their under feathers bc they will get chilled and these under feathers do not dry very well in their own. So, between legs, legs, under wings, and bellies need blow drying at a minimum.

4. Fill up your wash tub fairly full so water is mid way up their body. This helps to make the job quicker. Have a helper if possible, they will try to get out. But, a firm hold on their back works well.

5 have a rinse tub. Also helps to move the process faster. You may need to refresh the rinse water depending on number of chickens. We usually get 3-4 chickens done before replacing rinse water.

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I washed them yesterday after work, they’re actually really good for baths especially my silkies they really like baths (they don’t fuss at all) I made sure I blow dried them really good since it was calling for a cooler night. They’re still a little oily but I’m sure them dust bathing will help with the rest.

I have a question about where the lice came from? I have 3 fixed rabbits too that free roam in my shed (they’re not in direct contact with the chickens) I’ve checked them over and have found no lice on them - however there have been some mice living in my feed room this winter thats inside the shed, I’ve set traps and have caught 2 so far. Could the lice come from the mice?