The Poultry Keeper

CP · Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 8:58 pm Post subject: Lice

Ooo, feel such a bad Mum! Found lice on some of the girls yesterday!! Shocked

I admit they haven't had a dusting for a while, but we have put powder in the nestboxes & occasionally in the dustbath. Obviously not good enough. Rolling Eyes

So today the coop has had a thorough clean out & each girl in turn has had the undignified going over with lice powder in all their nooks & crannies! Embarassed

Hopefully they will now begin to feel less itchy. We, on the other hand, are itching like mad!! (psychosomatic, I'm sure) Laughing

Shower time! Wink

HeatherBB · Joined: 10 Oct 2005 Posts: 154 Location: Chelmsford

Luckily, I have not yet,and hope to never experience infestations of any kind!! I have memoirs of a childhood farm holiday where my younger sister returned to the chalet after visiting and feeding the locals chickens - she was covered in mites!! (needless to say my other sister and I treated her as though she had contracted the plague!!!) sp I so sympathise with your itching and hope you have eradicated the little buggers!!!!
lol Heather

Sue B · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 383 Location: Lincolnshire

HI How did you know they had lice? What were the signs I must admit its something that I haven't checked for.

fenwoman · Posted: Thu Mar 16, 2006 11:47 pm Post subject:

Just as with fleas on cats and dogs, there is no shame in getting them. The only shame is not getting rid of them. It's worth picking up your birds once in a while and checking. Look around on the bum area and part feathers so you can see the skin. You should be able to see lice clearly running about on the skin and sometimes they make clusters of greyish blobs on the bum feathers. Nasty things.

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

What's your best recommendation for getting rid of them Fenwoman?
The diatrom stuff doesn't seem to quite do the trick

fenwoman · Posted: Fri Mar 17, 2006 11:17 am Post subject:

I use a normal louse powder from the feed merchant, or frontline flea spray but the latter is not licenced for poultry. It works though so I'm happy to use it.

thewinkingtiger · Joined: 31 Aug 2005 Posts: 936 Location: East Yorkshire, UK

Thanks!