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LICE EGGS or “NITS” as they appear on feathers.

If you see one feather like this that means there probably are several more and likely on several chickens, if not all of the birds in your flock. Check around the vent area, stomach, behind neck and where the wing joins the body close to the skin.

TREATMENT: There are several products you can use to treat lice & mites of all forms. Dusting each bird once a week to gain control is a simple method if you only have a few birds. Purchase 10% Sevin Powder, Rotone Powder or a Permethrin Powder. Please be aware that 5% Sevin does not work as efficiently as the 10%. BUT, no matter how many birds you have you also have to clean your pens and cages to rid your birds of a heavy infestation which means you need to dust every perch, nesting box, clean out old litter and dust the floor.

Another way to quickly rid you birds of an active infestation is to dip them in a water mixture of Ectiban Concentrate or another quality brand of Premethrin Concentrate. Following the directions on the container, mix a tub of warm water, dip each bird, thoroughly soaking the feather and the areas where the nit eggs are visible and towel dry the same as washing your birds for show. Set them in a draft free place to dry. They will preen and remove many of the small nit colonies or single nits off their feathers that way. They can not remove the large clumps of nit eggs as we see in the picture. If the nit “ sack” is large then you should pull these off a few at a time and burn or put in a plastic baggie to ensure they are all dead and won’ t spread if you just lay them aside. The following week you should check your birds and dust or dip them again to kill any remaining lice or nits or all your work was for nothing.

A third type of treatment is to use Adams Fleas Off Mist for dogs and cats. If you use this, you should be aware that you should cover the birds vent while spraying and keep it out of the birds eyes and off the face.. This treatment stings and seems to cause stress if it’ s used too heavily. Some believe it also causes fertility to lower until the product wears off which is in about 10 days. It is one of the longest lasting treatments. It’ s convenient and easy to use. I use it often but not with heavily infested birds. The other treatments are more efficient and less stressful.

PREVENTION: is the best and easiest way to save your birds the pain and aggravation of being infested with lice and mites and you hours of work.

Check at your local feed store for the best product in your area or go on the internet and look up appropriate products to use on your chickens.

Many of these little parasites carry diseases, etc. such as fowl pox, Newcastle disease, Marek’ s disease, bronchitis, Chronic Respiratory Disease (CRD) and more.

Dust or spray area’ s of your barn where the birds are most active during the day, the corners, cracks, the nesting box and where they sleep at night. Don’ t forget the carrying cases you have stored in a corner and the birds in a cage. Normally twice a year is often enough.