Life Cycle - Lice

[Ted Brown]

Is it correct that lice (and by extension mites) are hatching every day? I assume yes.

I received a rooster that is heavily infested, showing both live & dead critters with significant build up of egg "cement" under wings and around the vent area.

I am treating with Sulphur powder and spray Permethrin (still winter here so being very cautious to not chill him). Will follow a 28 day (four 7 days) cycle for Permethrin; intermediate Sulphur treatments as live lice detected.

Lice "eggs hatch in 4-5 days, with three immature (nymph) stages each taking 3-4 days between molts to the next life stage". I believe this means that they are capable of laying eggs within 13-17 days?

Questions:

1. I believe that Permethrin kills on contact? For how many days is it effective?

2. Best way to remove “egg cement” buildup? {I saw one article saying vinegar (ie acidic acid) another saying oil, another saying cut it off.)

Thank you.

 

[Ted Brown]

I have done some digging/reading: have come across using vinegar, oil, hair conditioner to remove lice egg "glue" from chickens.

Make sense?

 

[Sally PB]

@Wyorp Rock @azygous @aart

Any ideas here?

 

[Sequel]

 

[aart]

Timing of permethrin is 7-10 days.
I believe it will have some residual effect.
Have never removed lice eggs, but have read that some kind of oil should suffocate them and may help break them down. Cutting them off might be the fastest way.

 

[Shadrach]

Is it correct that lice (and by extension mites) are hatching every day? I assume yes.

I received a rooster that is heavily infested, showing both live & dead critters with significant build up of egg "cement" under wings and around the vent area.

I am treating with Sulphur powder and spray Permethrin (still winter here so being very cautious to not chill him). Will follow a 28 day (four 7 days) cycle for Permethrin; intermediate Sulphur treatments as live lice detected.

Lice "eggs hatch in 4-5 days, with three immature (nymph) stages each taking 3-4 days between molts to the next life stage". I believe this means that they are capable of laying eggs within 13-17 days?

Questions:

1. I believe that Permethrin kills on contact? For how many days is it effective?

2. Best way to remove “egg cement” buildup? {I saw one article saying vinegar (ie acidic acid) another saying oil, another saying cut it off.)

Thank you.

You're not making much sense if you'll excuse me.
I've uderstood from what you've written that you have concerns about further treatment with spray on Permethrin because it's a liquid and it's very cold where you are, yet you are considering vinigar and possible other liquids.
Permethrin does kill on contact but Permethrin also stays stuck to the feathers and maybe the skin and is effective for some time after. How long exactly that length of time is I don't know. I imagine the dose concentration will have some bearing on the matter.
Effecive mite and lice control is rarely a hit and quit it venture. There is always, as you are aware, the problem of the eggs hatching. I would suggest that rather than trying to find a way to remove all the eggs which is a next to impossible mission, stage the Permethrin treatment.

 

[Sally PB]

Permethrin is also available as a dust, which gets rid of the wet aspect.

 

[aart]

Permethrin is also available as a dust, which gets rid of the wet aspect.

Hard(impossible) to find in Canada tho

 

[Ted Brown]

... Have never removed lice eggs, but have read that some kind of oil should suffocate them and may help break them down. Cutting them off might be the fastest way.

I have also read that oil can help with egg removal.

If I can avoid cutting I will; he has "slabs" of the glue as in 3-5" by ~1" attached to feather shafts in several places under each wing. Guessing he was put in a cage after hatching a year ago and has not been closely looked at since.

 

[Ted Brown]

You're not making much sense if you'll excuse me.
I've uderstood from what you've written that you have concerns about further treatment with spray on Permethrin because it's a liquid and it's very cold where you are, yet you are considering vinigar and possible other liquids.
...
Effecive mite and lice control is rarely a hit and quit it venture. There is always, as you are aware, the problem of the eggs hatching. I would suggest that rather than trying to find a way to remove all the eggs which is a next to impossible mission, stage the Permethrin treatment.

"not making much sense" + "effective mite... rarely a hit and miss"

I am trying to get complete information to chart a proper course. I have previous experience with mites, took me three months to get under control, so not a novice.

On Monday we sprayed Wilfred with Permethrin very thoroughly. Then my friend sat in front of a wood stove with a hair dryer for more than an hour to ensure he was dry. We will repeat four times over next 28 days.

The lice literally fell off in the hundreds while she did this.