Bald Patch in back of head from scratching

[cheslinnl]

I'm a first time chicken owner and received 2 chicks 5 weeks ago, both are 5 week old and are half way between developing feathers one of them (the black one) has a bald patch on the back of the neck area where the flesh is raised and has been broken
(pictures attached) which we have deducted was most likely due to the chick scratching that area. We are unsure of what to do and whether this is extremely serious or will go away over time.

I should inform you that this started happening a little over 1-2 weeks ago and that when we first go both chickens we found that they have chicken head lice (which we were informed to be basically harmless).
Thankyou

 

[azygous]

You have been informed, but not correctly. Lice can be a serious health problem. They cause great discomfort at the very least, can sicken at the most. It's time to dust your chicks.

 

[Folly's place]

x2! Welcome, and please get permethrin dust and treat the chicks and their cleaned out coop ASAP! Mary

 

[cheslinnl]

Thanks for the advice, do you have any recommendations as to where to buy the dust from (online or shop name?) ?

 

[Folly's place]

I get mine at Tractor Supply. You should have some kind of farm store around, and it might be labeled 'Poultry Dust'. Wear a N95 or better dust mask when using any kind of dusting product. Mary

 

[cheslinnl]

Does Tractor Supply ship to Australia? I live in the middle of the city in Australia so we don't really have farm stores, I'll check the local pet stores but I might have to end up buying it from online somewhere.

 

[cheslinnl]

I get mine at Tractor Supply. You should have some kind of farm store around, and it might be labeled 'Poultry Dust'. Wear a N95 or better dust mask when using any kind of dusting product. Mary

I've managed to find a reasonably local pet store that stocks Inca Pestene Powder 500g would this work for removing the lice from my chickens?

 

[Folly's place]

It's sulfur and rotenone. We don't use rotenone in the US much, if at all, in the USA anymore. Definitely not on chickens! Here the approved product, which works well, is permethrin. Maybe in a garden supplies store? Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Check with your ag. department, poultry division. Mary