Neem oil for lice: How should I treat them and is this brand ok?

[MelissaRose]

Hello!
I have to treat my chicken for lice because some of them are very infested. I do not want to use chemicals and I read that people have successfully used neem oil. So, I got a pint of concentrated neem oil in town. It says its for gardens but I assume that would work for chickens too? The brand is BONIDE. Here is a picture:

I spent $20 on this so I hope its ok.
How do I use it? I read that you can spray it on, this is concentrated so how should I mix it? ON the bottle, for gardens, it says 2 tablespoons to 1 gallon of water. Will this work for gardens.
Thanks in advance - any help is appreciated.

~MelissaRose

 

[MelissaRose]

Here is another picture, the other one doesn't seem to be zooming in:

On the site it says safe for edible plants, not safe for pets.

 

[MelissaRose]

The label:

 

[MelissaRose]

Anyone?

 

[cmom]

I'll stick with permethrin dust and powder. I know they work. I have tried DE among other things. My birds looked pathetic but are beautiful now.

 

[Folly's place]

There's likely a reason the manufacturer talks about plants, and not to use on animals.
Mary

 

[Fishkeeper]

DO NOT PUT THAT ON YOUR BIRDS. Do not put it where they can reach.

Neem oil is a chemical. Water is a chemical. Blood is a mix of chemicals. EVERYTHING is chemicals. Whether or not something is "natural" has no bearing on if it's safe- asbestos is just a rock that comes out of the ground like that, and a thousand and one plants can be lethal if ingested.

If your chickens are heavily infested with lice, you NEED a commercial treatment. Commercial lice treatments are made to kill lice, and ONLY lice. They are specifically made to be safe for your birds. They will not hurt your birds, but the lice will if you don't get rid of them.

Keep the neem oil for if you need to use it on plants in your garden, but DO NOT use it on your birds. Get those poor birds a real treatment.

 

[Folly's place]

x2!
Permethrin works, and is safe for them, and BTW, costs way less too.
Mary

 

[cmom]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, Mary, what breed is the bird in your avatar? I raise Rhode Island Whites. This is father and son. Old pictures and they are no longer here, I have more generations.

 

[Folly's place]

cmom, beautiful birds! My guy is also gone, a white Chantecler. Loved him!
Mary