What to do - lice?

M

MidsYk

New member
Joined
Aug 26, 2018
Messages
9
Reaction score
0
I’m at a loss. I know it’s common, but how is it best to sort lice - white clumps at the base of the feathers around the vent, I have red mite powder, which doesn’t seem to have any effect.
Are there any other treatments in the UK? She doesn’t complain but there must be some cure. And any tips on preventing it in future? Thanks
 
From memory, you can dust them with Diatomaceous Earth, or I think there's a spray you can get, but unfortunately, I can't remember the name.
 
You'll want to wear an FFP3 mask, as diatom (diatomaceous earth) isn't good for your lungs, but I agree with Lady A that this is the way to go.

Puff some under each wing, in amongst the hackle feathers & in the fluffy bum feathers, rubbing it in to distribute it. Add some to the hens' dustbath too. You should see a significant reduction in lice within 48 hours.
 
Thank you both, I used to have some, but read reports it wasn’t good. I’ll look into it again. Appears to be the only solution.
 
I agree with Icemaiden & LadyA it is the best way to go, and put some in the dust bath, you can try the FlytesoFancy website they have lots of products for hens and may have the liquid, can't remember the name either.
 
I've not come across a liquid form of diatom before. I guess it's a slurry?
 
I have a feeling the spray is for the coop, perches etc
 
@Touchstone I think lice, I use tobacco juice to get rid of red, broad, and two spotted mites from my other plants, it’s the most effective thing I’ve found.

I just looked it up and it appears it’s also effective on lice..

‘an insecticide that in- teracts with nicotinic acetylcholine receptors of in- sects (Yamamoto 1965, Yamamoto et al. 1998). Nico- tine has been used for controlling poultry lice by applying a tobacco extract containing 40% nicotine to perches in chickenhouses (Soulsby 1982, pp. 376Ð 378). The fowl were exposed to this extract for 2 nights, and the warmth of their bodies caused the nicotine to evaporate on their feathers, which even- tually killed the lice’


There’s a company selling tobacco straw chicken bedding so I guess this is a good way to use it as they don’t like being wet although the tobacco juice/water could be sprayed around their coop.

hermie.com

Miscanthus straw with tobacco 10kg - Ground cover in chickens against blood lice Focus on the benefits of tobacco against red lice

At Green Elephant, we have created a special litter for your chickens based on our miscanthus straw.Combined with tobacco, this litter is 100% natural and offers a formula that is still unique in Belgium and the Netherlands. Tobacco is a natural repellen…
hermie.com hermie.com

I wouldn’t use commercial tobacco, you can get chemical free but the price is ridiculous and it’s not the best variety, I grow rustica tobacco which is 30% nicotine, commercial tobacco is usually between 3 and 5%.

To make juice/water you can either boil it, soak it, or put fresh leaves in the blender. I could put some seeds in the post if anyone needs them? I have some that will be ready in the next week or two, I got them from here..

The Tobacco Seed Company

60 varieties of the finest tobacco seed for you to grow your own tobacco at home.
www.tobaccoseed.co.uk www.tobaccoseed.co.uk
 
Last edited:
Surely a spray of 30% nicotine would kill the chickens, never mind the lice???

I suggest putting an FFP3 mask or respirator on yourself & dusting each hen with diatomaceous earth powder. Puff it under each wing, around the vent and under the hackle feathers. You can also make up a slurry of diatomaceous earth in water and apply it to the perch ends & any other nooks & crannies.

Put some of the powder into the hens' dustbath too.
 
Ha ha, yeah probably, I was just thinking best not spray it on them because they don’t like being wet.

I don’t think de works when it’s wet, not for me anyway, even after it’s dried again it sort of forms a cake and they just walk all over it. I always put a sprinkle on my quails sand after I filter out the droppings though and they love it, they all immediately start bathing in it together but then I cough it up for a couple of days after, they live indoors so there’s not much I can do, it goes everywhere. Not sure it’s any good for their lungs either but they don’t seem to mind.

Pretty sure tobacco juice wouldn’t harm them sprayed about their coop but I’ve not tried it, must be alright or there wouldn’t be people selling tobacco straw bedding?

Not sure what the percentage is in the juice but the plant itself is 30%, I add quite a bit of water and it works really well on indoor plants.
 
Last edited:
I just cleaned them out and tried a sprinkle of dried oregano on their sand instead of the de to see if it’d be a good alternative, it smells pretty good even if it doesn’t deter the mites.
They’re eating it 🙄
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Back
Top