Single hen

[robbie2390]

HI all, Need help here. I have been keeping chooks now for about 5 months have 19 in all, yesterday Tess leapt up on my shoulder whilst i was collecting the eggs, she likes to use the lid as a spring board to get on me, i got her down into my arms and decided to have a good look at her..... shock horror found guests under her feathers small but visable and light brown in colour..... are these fleas?

[Egluntyne]

Hello and welcome.

 

They sound like lice. Have a look round her vent and if there are tiny clusters of eggs cemented to the base of the feathers, that clinches it.

 

You could give them all and their housing a good dusting with Barrier Red Mite Powder or Diatomaceous Earth. Both readily available online or at agricultural type shops or you could go for the more chemical option and treat them with Xeno 200 *Not licensed for use on Poultry in UK. There is an egg withdrawal during and for one week after with this treatment. Also available online.

[robbie2390]

Thanks for that will look round vent today and let all know what i find. Ta

[Ain't Nobody Here]

Egluntine always gives fab advice (and really knows her stuff!) but I'll just mention that we used Johnson's Anti Mite Spray (from Pets at Home) and it got rid of Molly's lice immediately (3 day egg withdrawal).

[robbie2390]

Well we dusted with Barrier Lice powder and observed a mass evacuation to the surface feathers of the little so and so's, one of the girls under feathers are all matted...whats this?

 

The Louse Powder was reccomended by the people at CountryWide but two days later noticed we still have unwelcome guests on the girls but in vastly smaller numbers, we have Red Mite powder should we have used this if so when can we now safely use it?

[Ain't Nobody Here]

I think you can safely use it straight away. I don't think there should be a problem using it after the other louse powder. If you think the critters are still there even after that, you could try Johnson's Anti Mite spray (from Pets at Home or similar). That sorted the lice out for me. (There is an egg withdrawal period though .)

 

Or you could go for the Xeno 200 treatment as recommended by Egluntine ...

or you could go for the more chemical option and treat them with Xeno 200 *Not licensed for use on Poultry in UK. There is an egg withdrawal during and for one week after with this treatment. Also available online.

[Mazzarina]

It's worth pointing out that the louse powder kills the critters themselves but not their eggs, so you need to give the chooks another dusting about a week after the first go. The lice you saw second time round might have hatched after your first dusting.

[sandyhas3chucks]

are you itching like me? they move soooo fast. I was surprised! Did mine but found some near my disabled girls head after spraying, so sat her on my lap with old toothbrush some red mite powder loose and gave her little groom, with dusted brush. I don't think she can preen as well as the others from her laying down position and I know she can't scrath herself. she seemed to enjoy it. the matty bits are the eggs I think, like you just learning about them went 10 months & had no problems!

[robbie2390]

Thanks a bunch , you guys have been so helpfull, know where to come with any future problems which i hope i dont get but with my luck i will. Open to all advice and questions you may want to ask or pass on. Any one with dog probs gis a shout ex military dog Trainer/Handler may be able to help in some small way.

 

Will let you know how things go as going to try the Red Mite Powder now.

Once again many thanks.