Lice on chickens treatment

[A.M. Eggs]

So I was doing my normal routine with my chickens today, which includes a lot of snuggling, when I found brown bugs crawling on my young BR's back feathers! I know that they are lice and that they can be treated using Permethrin dust or possibly oregano? However, if I were to use permethrin, I would have to somehow put it on all of my 58 chickens individually. Over half are flighty and not easy to catch.

I would love to know if there is a treatment that I can use that can easily treat all of the chickens without me having to chase them. If so, what are the measurements? Is there a withdrawal period? Thank you!

 

[Chickassan]

Not that iv'e found, got to dust everybody and the coop too.
Then you'll have to repeat the whole deal in a week to cover eggs that hatch.
Put on your chicken chasing shoes.
Oh, and oregano won't kill lice, in any form i'm sorry I wish it did.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How is your coop set-up? Go out early before it gets light and they come off the roost, take each one down and dust/spray them, then set them free. I'm not a fan of chasing a chicken at all unless I absolutely have too. It's way to hot for me and them too.

 

[RoosterML]

Pull them off the roost at night. Make a puff bottle. Or use a baby powder bottle. Fill bottle with gardstar and go to town. One good puff under each wing at the joint where wing meets body. Another puff under tail around vent area and one in back of neck. Try to spread the feathers so it gets down to the skin when squirting. Repeat in 7 days. Wear mask and latex/vinyl gloves and get a helper. Yep lice issues stink.
Empty coop litter spray coop everywhere you can while chickens are outside and then install new litter. Good luck.

 

[Folly's place]

It's a night time activity, for sure. Gloves, N95 or better face mask, small flashlight or head lamp, and hopefully an assistant. Permethrin spray concentrate is much easier and less expensive! I only use the dust on the floor under new bedding, otherwise, birds, walls, everything gets sprayed.
Hate those rotten little mites and lice!
Don't selectively treat; get everyone at once!
Mary

 

[cmom]

I agree with Mary. I do put permethrin dust in the nest boxes but I spray inside of the coop thoroughly, weekly for awhile. Wild birds if they get in your coops or any place where the birds are can introduce the pests.

 

[chickens really]

I have a product called Doktor Doom Lice killer plus and so far it's working I think? It's a spray killer and you mist the birds. Plus you treat the Coop and close for 15 minutes. Then ventilation is needed..

 

[Alaskan]

The spray is the easiest way to go... horse fly spray has a strong percentage of permethrin.

After they are asleep.... walk down the perch and spray them all... try to get one spray on the rear under the tail feathers, and one doray under each wing.

And yes, it is best if you can do a good coop clean the day before you spray them... and then a week later repeat the coop clean and chicken spray...then you are done.

 

[chickens really]

The spray is the easiest way to go... horse fly spray has a strong percentage of permethrin.

After they are asleep.... walk down the perch and spray them all... try to get one spray on the rear under the tail feathers, and one doray under each wing.

And yes, it is best if you can do a good coop clean the day before you spray them... and then a week later repeat the coop clean and chicken spray...then you are done.

Really..Horse fly spray.....I didn't know that..

 

[casportpony]

I would love to know if there is a treatment that I can use that can easily treat all of the chickens without me having to chase them. If so, what are the measurements? Is there a withdrawal period? Thank you!

The best thing to do is bite the bullet and treat each one with permethrin. I know 58 is a lot of birds to handle, but it is the only way to treat them with a zero-day egg withdrawal.

If I were you I would go to Tractor Supply and get these:


You can also use the horse fly spay that @Alaskan suggested if it is labeled for use on poultry (read the label, if it has permethrin, it's probably okay). This one is labeled for use on poultry:


Tractor Supply also sells the dust:


Once you have your permethrin, see if you can get a friend to help you catch and treat them. Spray or dust a little all over their bodies and try to get it on the skin.