Scoobs Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 I've just done a quick health check and one of my ladies has lice (I think). Small brown critters running around at the base of her feathers by her vent? I put dichotomous earth in the eglu and nest box at least twice a week when I'm clearning out the tray and I have put it in their dustbath too. Will Dichotomous earth be enough to treat lice on her or do I need some other product? I presume I try to dust it onto her skin but do I put it all over or just in the one area where I can see them and how much is enough? Also, now I feel really itchy.....can the lice transfer themselves to us! Please say no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanb Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 I read on here that chicken lice cannot live on humans - so that is one less thing to worry about! We had a problem with lice and we dusted our chickens all over with Diatomous earth and also red mite powder. We aprticularly aimed under wings and around vent - but also tried to put it all around. Took a few goes but did get it sorted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lavenders_Blue Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Johnson's Anti-Mite spray is the best treatment. You can buy it from pet shops. Spray under the vent and wings (and anywhere else you spot creepy crawlies) then repeat the treatment a week later to catch any eggs that have hatched. You will need to withdraw eggs for 48 hours after each treatment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted July 7, 2010 Share Posted July 7, 2010 Diatomaceous earth worked for mine...you need to put in on them as well as Susanb says. No they don't live on you but be careful when you pick the chickens up as the lice if really bad can transfer onto your clothes.....gross Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scoobs Posted July 8, 2010 Author Share Posted July 8, 2010 Thanks for the advice. I scooped out all the aubiose (what fantastic stuff, would never have known about it if it wasn't for this forum) from the WIR cleaned it with poultry shield and cleaned all the roosting bars and Eglu too. I dusted all their backsides with DE but will do their wings tonight after the advice here. How often do I do this? Every week for 2 - 3 weeks? I've heard DE is really drying so don't know whether I do it every day or so or not and it is really difficult to get it right at the skin so don't know whether a dusting on the feathers is ok. I went a bit mad putting it in the nest box and dust bath this morning, hope I didn't over do it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pikey Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 I put it in the coop and dust baths every time I clean it out......about once a month on the chickens. Hope you are lice free soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandyhas3chucks Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 I'd use the spray too. why? because I found I need too to get rid of them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
