How Quickly Does Albendazole Work?

[mictogirl]

Hi All.

 

I've just been and got some louse stuff from a fab animal feeds store I've discovered near work - although we couldn't find any evidence of lice under wings etc when we checked the chickens the other week, Pecky is still looking peaky and has lost most of the feathers on her chest and tummy now, with no sign of them growing back. Her behaviour is fine and I'm not sure whether she's laying as our egg count is pretty sporadic atm, though sometimes we do get 5 eggs in a day from the ex-batts, so she can't have given up totally.

 

Anyway, I asked the lady whether they had any louse powder for chickens and she said no as it was fairly difficult to get hold of (?), but sold me some spray stuff intended for pigeons, which she said was also suitable for chickens and that the small can (150ml) would do my 6 chooks no problem.

 

The active ingredient is Permethrin it says - do you think this will be OK to use? I'm not sure where else to get louse powder otherwise, I guess I'd have to order online.

 

I also managed to get a BIG bag of poultry grit (thank goodness, they get through the smaller bags we have had previously really quickly) and some poultry spice, so maybe the latter will help perk the ladies up what with this yucky weather and their lack of free ranging.

 

Thanks in advance!

Laura.

[The Dogmother]

Errr, Barrier Red mite powder (also for use for lice) is really easy to get hold of. As is Diatom.

 

You will need to withdraw the eggs from human consumption for a few days after using that spray. I'd be inclined to return it to the shop (after all you wer sold the wrong stuff) and then order the right thing from the Omlet shop.

[mictogirl]

Hmm, thanks for that Claret - I guess I'll take it back tomorrow, grr.

 

Is diatom earth what I need? I've looked at some of the reviews of it in the Omlet shop and guess this is it? I already have and use red mite powder since we have a wooden house, but I thought I needed some kind of specific louse powder as well since they are different to red mites.

 

If it IS diatom earth I need, what's the best way of using it? They don't have a dustbath - I've tried but it's just too muddy in their run. If I put it in their porridge presumably that would help with internal parasites (i've also wormed them with flubenvet recently), but not external ones like lice. Should I just get OH to pick them up and then give them a good dusting? Would that work?

 

Sorry for all the daft questions....

[The Dogmother]

That's OK, we all need to ask questions to learn....

 

Diatom can be used in lots of ways - you can dust your hens with it if they have lice, sprinkle it in the nest/dustbath and around the housing and add it to their feed. I decant some into a squeezy ketchup bottle (the type with a valve in the lid) and then use that to sqoosh it everywhere. Take care not to breathe it though.

 

Can I suggest that you use a clear tarpaulin or shower curtain to cover your run and keep it dry?

[Hen Watch]

Hi Laura,

 

This is the louse powder I use:

http://www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk/pws/ProductDetails.ice?ProductID=1285

 

I also use Diatom ocassionally. As Claret says in the feed sometimes and in their dustbath. If you can make them a dustbath they will appreciate it. I use an underbed plastic storage box from Morrisons filled with dry earth from hubbies greenhouse. It lives permanently in their run. My chooks use it nearly every day in winter. Must have a roof over the run to keep it dry though.

 

[bronze]

I didn't find any of the powders worked when my girls got lice so I use one drop of frontline and it worked

[The Dogmother]

I didn't find any of the powders worked when my girls got lice so I use one drop of frontline and it worked

 

I always dose mine up with Ivomec Eprinex - the only thing that really works (*not licenced for use on poultry in the UK*)