KateC Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 I am trying to get my girls used to being handled and had had a good session with them this afternoon. However, when I came away my head was itching and on brushing my hair two insects fell out. I am pretty sure they must be lice from the chickens To say I freaked is an understatement. I immediately cleaned out the nest box and sprinkled barrier louse powder in. When my husband got home from a run he was called in to help me powder up the girls, much to their dismay! I don't think they are riddled as they have not shown any particular signs of having them. I regularly Frontline my dogs and cat and thought I had heard that you can use it on chickens although it is not licensed for them. I want to get rid of the lice and hopefully prevent other outbreaks. Could you advise which one to buy and how best to use it on the girls. Poor things, they are just getting used to being picked up Many thanks again for your help. This forum is becoming invaluable to me. x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 Hi, i wouldnt give them frontline really, not if your not supposed to, it could do more damage than good, what are you lousing them with? if you can pick them up i would try and have a look under there neck feathers and see if you can see any visitors, alson on there bums if there is any mites or anything? if i suspect my girls have lice i will do them about once a week, although it is tricky! and mine detest it, you should hear the noise they make! Mine are quite tame though but they still put up a struggle! totally empathize with you there! xxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateC Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 I used Barrier louse powder. It smells lovely and they didn't seem to mind too much!! To be honest we didn't look closely as we just wanted to get it done before they headed off to bed. I dusted around the neck, along the back, under the wings and round the rear end. Hopefully this will do the trick. I make sure my other animals have preventative treatment such as the frontline simply because I hate the thought of parasites, especially on me One of the little bugs took ages to be killed. My skin still crawls when I think of it Thanks for your advice, I really appreciate it. This whole chicken community is so friendly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lindafw Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 my birds have a favourite dust bath area and i add louse powder to that if I think they have a problem Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 KateC hopefully you wont have to do that again now you have loused them! Do you have a dustbath? could be a good idea to get one and put some louse powder in it so they can louse themselves all the time? also saves you the hassle! xxxx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsley Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 My Thuringian had lice when I bought her at a show, quite a few I sprayed her with Johnsons, one squirt on her bottom, under each wing and on the back of her neck as she is heavily feathered around her neck. Next morning only a few lice left so did it again that night and everything went. It even killed the eggs so they did not hatch out and have dropped off . Luckily lice are predominently a host bug and did not spread to my other birds, which have their heads, necks, under wing and vents checked every time I handle them, much to their disgust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateC Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 Great idea. They love their dust bath. Will give it a really good sprinkling first thing tomorrow morning before I let them out. They are going to be the sweetest smelling chickens around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateC Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 Thanks Parsley. Will get some of that spray. Is is just called Johnsons louse spray or something similar? At this rate, these chickens will never see another louse again! Great to have so much help. I thought having chickens would be easy. I know where I am with dogs and cats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsley Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 It is Johnsons anti mite spray and is for budgies and other cage birds but is commonly used on chooks even though I don't think it is licenced for poultry. There is an egg withdrawal period of 48 hours recommended. Have a look at pictures of lice on the net to see if what you brushed off are poultry lice as there are lots of nibbling things around outside at the moment. My Jasmine was absolutely covered in them but they stayed on her and I was handling her a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 i havent heard of that spray i usually use DE, right will look for that KateC i didnt know anything either and i got my first 6 in may 2010, one died then i got 2 off a friend and then got 3 more! so i have 10 and 10 is my absolute max! how many hens have you got? do you have an eglu or wooden coop? I learnt everything i know from this site, its so amazing AND its free! how long have you had your hens? i have learnt so much from here and it wont be long till your giving advice to newbies Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateC Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 I have 4 hybrids. They are a blacktail, goldline and two bovan neras. I have only had them for a month! I am learning all the time. I have a cube for them with a 4 metre run and a 2 m sq WIR. I am already thinking a increasing the space for them when I have the money! Have ordered that spray from Amazon already! They are going to get a dose of that too. I won't tell them yet, I'll have to break it to them gently after today I don't know how you cope with 10! I find 4 keep me on my toes, they are always one step ahead of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnandkymberley Posted July 23, 2011 Share Posted July 23, 2011 They are running rings around you already? wow they must be clever!!! I got morehens diease, then H2B caught it! You have loads of space for 4! Have you got the omlet walk in run? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateC Posted July 23, 2011 Author Share Posted July 23, 2011 Yes, the WIR is omlet. It is really good although it took my husband a lot more time to put together than it said it would. I have put some perches in for them and they enjoy those. The blacktail decides that she wants to free range and always sits by the door when I go in ready to rush past. I have to gently push her back with my foot. She is by far the most dominant and follows me round when I am poop scooping having a chat. She is fascinated with anything shiny and regularly pecks at my watch and rings. They are all becoming more chatty now which is lovely. All different and all adorable. I am smitten. However, I think 4 is enough for me!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
janedent Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 My hens were crawling with lice. I used Barrier louse powder for 2 months and it seemed to make no impact. People said 'it takes time to work' but I got fed up of constantly powdering them to no effect. So I used Frontline and the lice went immediately. You have to throw eggs away for a couple of weeks, but I think it's worth it. They've been louse-free ever since. Jane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KateC Posted July 29, 2011 Author Share Posted July 29, 2011 Thanks Jane. I have sprayed the chooks with the Johnsons spray and they don't seem to be scratching as they were I haven't picked them up really since I got the lice on me. I feel itchy thinking about it but I must do it. Which frontline strength did you use and will you use it as a preventative in future? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vickichicky Posted July 29, 2011 Share Posted July 29, 2011 Hi, I found lice on mine recently despite using the powder stuff which I am also very allergic too So I took one off to the vets and was presribed Frontline. It's exactly the same spray as I use on my little Chihuahau. The vets advised 6 squirts per KG of bird (so 12 squirts for mine). It worked so quickly - the eggs haven't dropped off yet but look very dead. I'm still on egg withdrawel (was advised 7 days minimum). And the girls have stopped flicking their heads. Very happy with the result and would recommed via a prescription really as it's 'not licensed for Poultry' Though the Johnson spray sounds good - especially with the reduced egg withdrawel time. I also put DE in the nest box & in the dustbath Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
