Is my pekin bantam male or female?

[jam]

Hi

 

First of all, has my chciken actually got lice? Ive only ever seen pictures of them looking like little black dots, but my hen is covered in what look like little red ants all round her knickers. are these lice or are they something different. Im hoping I havnt mis-diagnosed the problem.

 

Anyways, At the begining of the week i was checking my chickens and discovered that buttercup was crawling in these beasties, eeeewww. None of my chickens have had them until now, theyre disgusting! like little red ants And the base of her feathers are all crusty with eggs.

 

The next day I bought some barrier louse powder and covered her (and the other chickens) in the stuff. Four days later and there still hasnt been any improvement. How often should I apply the powder until the beasties disappear and how can I get rid of the eggs. Ive read a previous topic that says about giving them in a bath, but buttercup is the most un-tame chicken ever and ive been left with enough scratches up my arms just trying to put the powder on her. Is there any other way of getting rid of them?

 

Her skin also looks really dry and red because of the lice, is there something I could give her to help this?

 

Many thanks

Jam

[Space Chick]

Sounds a lot like Red Mite to me Nasty horrible things.

 

Here are my suggestions - Firstly clean the house with poultry shield getting into all the nooks and crannies, then liberally dust with red mire powder the house and the hens. Add some diatom earth to the dustbaths.

 

Others will have suggestions I am sure.

[Egluntyne]

Barrier louse powder is more of a preventative than a treatment.

 

Johnson's Anti Mite Spray , works on lice too (available from etshops) is effective. Spray under her wings and around her vet. Repeat a week or so later of necessary. it is *not licensed for use on poultry in UK. An egg withdrawal period of 48 hours applies after each application.

[jam]

mmm, i didnt think of red mite, because I thought they only lived in wooden houses and my coop is plastic...

Oh well, better go to the petshop yet again, Thanks for the advise

[The Dogmother]

Sounds like lice to me, see here

 

Lots of treatment suggestions on that thread

[Lavenders_Blue]

Yep, sounds like lice to me too.

 

I tried the Barrier Louse Powder and found it totally ineffective as a treatment. Johnson's Anti Mite Spray is brill. If you can get a second person to help you it's easier as you need to spray right down to the skin to kill the beasties. Don't worry too much about the lice eggs, just keep spraying weekly until you don't see any more creepy crawlies.

 

Remember you need to withdraw eggs for 48 hours after each application of Johnson's spray.

[The Dogmother]

It isn't licensed for use on poultry in the UK, so I couldn't possibly recommend that you use it but I use Buz Busters louse powder in their dust bath and it really seems to keep the crawlies at bay. I squirt it around the housing too - after 2009 being a horrid year for lice and mites; I am being extra careful.

[fluffyknickers]

That Buzbusters looks great but how much is it and how can I order?

[The Dogmother]

I have the tub and the shaker size too - I refill the shaker from the tub. I got it through a local supplier which doesn't stock it, but can order it in.

 

I am sure that if you call them, they will be able to either send some to you, or tell you of a stockist nearby.