countrytalkandtips.myfreeforum.org

trufflehound · Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 42 Location: Carlow/Kilkenny

Seem to have a particularly tough outbreak at the moment - maybe weather-related?

Have put spray on birds & powder in house. Just wondering how others tackle them.

chook · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 305 Location: North Clare

Petvital Verminex (non-toxic) did the trick when I had a sick bird (bad leg) indoors who was covered in them. I find lice can be a problem when birds are weakened by something / hatching / lack dustbathing opportunities such as when there is no dust, just mud for weeks on end.
Diatomaceaous earth can be dusted into corners, crevices and bedding as a preventative for all the external parasites (wear a dustmask).

HTH
chook

blowin · Posted: Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:48 am Post subject:

A pile of coarse sand in the run so they can get a good bath .
Hydrated lime on the floor of the house . ( I wasn't sure about that , thought it might be caustic but it doesn't burn my hands so I presume ok ).
Check where the perches are attached at both ends . If there are any gaps or crevices there the mites will be in them . Twist or remove the perch poles to squash them .
Use a blow torch -- to burn them out of any small cracks and from behind any spiders webs . It is a good idea to remove hens and straw bedding before doing this !

trufflehound · Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 42 Location: Carlow/Kilkenny

I'm using wood shavings/sawdust for bedding & on floor - douglas fir at moment - & sprinkle on louse powder. Also give all perches a good dusting of louse powder & diatomaceous (sp?) earth. Found suggestion elsewhere for using Frontline spray for cats & kittens, which I have used on the chickens & seems to have done the job with no ill effects. Have also seen an ivermectin spot on - as this would deal with internal & external parasites wonder if this would be an option?

chook · Joined: 14 Mar 2007 Posts: 305 Location: North Clare

Ivermectin works alright from what people write in other forums. However, the trouble is that it's a neurotoxin (at least for mammals), persists in the environment (adverse impact on invertebrate fauna) and I presume there are withdrawal times for eggs and meat too. I wonder is it even licensed for use in poultry? I'd only use it as an absolute last resort.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivermectin