chick wiggle Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I was just having a cuddle and my DD said Lola has a tiny white bug near her eye. I think I managed to brush this off but thought I would check her over anyway. Deep in her feathers I saw a tiny little bug, about 2 - 3 mm, but it wasnt red, more a pale terracotta, peachy colour. So I immediately thought red mite, panicked and powdered them all in diatom powder. Will they be ok? I also cleaned out their houses and never found any sign of red mite and I checked nooks and crannys etc. I only cleaned them all out at the weekend using poultry shield, diatom and red mite powder, surely the little critters couldnt live in that lot? Ugh, going for shower because I itch now, (all in the mind, I hope!) and eagerly await your answers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mags Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 I would think it was some kind o mite and you have done the right thing treating her . saw some thing on one of my girls and I dusted all of them mags Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Thanks, was just worried as I usually dust them with red mite powder every few weeks not diatom. Wasnt sure about dusting them with diatom? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Sounds like lice rather than red mite hon. Lice live on the chicken rather than in the housing like red mite. Dusting with diatom is fine, but you may need to spray with something stronger as well or treat with one of the systemic treatments such as spot on/ivermectin. I haven't much experience of these, but there is plenty written about them in the FAQs section. See if you can see any nits (louse eggs) on the feather shafts as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 Thanks Snowy, I have been reading the FAQ section and will be getting some lice treatment tomorro, xeno spot on and johnsons spray. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna_0 Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Hello! Yep sounds lice lice..yucky little critters! I used the spray from pets at home (blue and white tin) and sprayed them under wings, on the neck and a short spray in the feathers on our girls botts, and then did it again two days later. This worked a treat, and the spray is only a couple of pounds! I'm not sure if you are meant to have an egg withdrawal period, but we did for 7 days just to be safe. Margot Maggie RIP My beautiful Babs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Definitely a louse. You are very unlikely to spot a red mite on the hen during the day. Johnson's Spray works well but is is *not licensed for use on poultry in UK so the manufacturers recommend a 48 hour egg withdrawal period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 Johnsons spray it is then, do you just spray it on them or do you have to get it on the skin? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted August 6, 2009 Share Posted August 6, 2009 You need to spray it on the skin at the base of the feathers. Do two treatments a week apart so as to break the life-cycle of the lice and catch the ones which have just hatched out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chick wiggle Posted August 6, 2009 Author Share Posted August 6, 2009 eeeuwwww, just like headlice then? Never even saw a headlice until my 3rd child brought them home from school and they have been the bain of life off and on for the last few years! Thanks everyone, tomoro is definately a huge clean out day then Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
