4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[Bravo11]

Hi! Just found out one of my girls has lice . I know there are already loads of threads on lice but I'm still a very new chicken keeper and have some questions to make sure I do everything right .

 

About an hour ago we spotted that one of our girls has some matted feathers under one of her wings and on closer inspection saw a louse. I've read up on previous threads/chicken health section and been straight out to try to get Johnsons anti-mite spray. The shop hadn't got any in so I have bought some Barrier Louse Powder and plan to dust the girls later tonight when it gets dark so they will be calmer. I am planning to treat all 3 girls - although I can only see lice on one - is this right?

 

Also, when the shops open tomorrow is there any thing else I should get and be doing in addition to the Louse Powder in order to rid my girls of these pests ?

 

We have only had the girls a month so I'm now worrying what I'm doing wrong...

 

Any advice would be much appreciated

[Guest]

Hi make sure you de louse the housing too

indie

 

ps dustbathing is good for keeping lice at bay so for the future etc dust area(some people put louse powder in a dustbathing area & have read others put a little in their nest area ??Good luck at least u spotted it

[LJ's Chooks]

track down some Xeno 200 spray on the internet and treat all the girls... then again after 2 weeks and then after 4 to kill all stages of the little blighters...

 

this year is supposed to be bad for lice.... though not sure how they can predict... ????

[Falkor]

hi Bravo

 

I recently found lice on two of my girls but not the other two and used the Johnson Anti-mite spray on all four. This seems to have sorted the problem. I also made sure that I cleaned the cube and changed all the bedding.

 

Lice lay egg clusters at the base of the feathers so i have tried to tease these off.....some I had to cut.

 

Where are you based? Someone might have some Johnsons spray they could lend.

[Budgies]

 

this year is supposed to be bad for lice.... though not sure how they can predict... ????

 

From the weather, mostly, I think. Lice and mites hate damp cold conditions but love warmth.

 

We've had a great year so far for the little blighters I'm afraid! Keep dusting/spraying those chooks everyone, it's the best way of keeping the situation under control!

[Bravo11]

Thank you all for your advice. I have treated all 3 with the Barrier Louse Powder now (the only thing I could get hold of on Sunday evening) and sprinkled some in their nest box and dust bath.

 

Should I now wait a while before treating with Xeno200/Johnson Anti Mite or go ahead and get some now and blast them with this as well?! (I can see from all the posts that these do seem to be the most popular/successful but panicked and bought the first thing I could get hold of )

 

Many thanks again for all your advice - it is much appreciated!

Emma

 

[The Dogmother]

I have just posted about this here, I hope that it helps.

 

You're right - this year is going to be very bad for crawlies - I have already heard lots of reports of infestations.