[NUMBER27]

Hi, does anyone have any advise on how to get rid of lice on chickens. Have 3 girls but only one appears to be infested, I check them daily. Have tried the recommended powder but not having any effect although continuing to dust hen house. Am I just unlucky with my girls, first worms then feathers falling out now lice, or am I doing something wrong? Thank you.

[JaK]

I use frontline spay for cats and kittens. You can buy it fron the vets and it will last a very ling time. It does the job as I've been lucky enough not to see lice so far. Well worth trying. 

[kegs]

Frontline (kitten or cat strength) is so easy to use on the chickens especially if you wait until they are in their coop sleeping.  It's available from several different web sites too at various prices so shop around. Here's the link on lice which will give you lots of useful information. 

http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=5250.0

You're not doing anything wrong at all, it's just a huge learning curve and once you get the hang of what to do to prevent your chickens getting worms and lice you'll wonder why you were so worried.

[Chrysalis]

Frontline!!!  So easy if yuo use the spray one on the back of the neck under the feathers! ALso no need to withdraw eggs, so win win!

[3Bluebelles]

Or the little capsules of Frontline liquid, again cat or kitten strength, just 1 or 2 drops per chicken on the back of their neck does it. Easiest way is when they have gone to roost at night, then they are really sleepy and easy to pick up and administer.

[NUMBER27]

Thanks for all the advise, frontline it is!!

[nic n dave]

do u use frontline to prevent lice or are u only using it when u find an infestation on them?

[3Bluebelles]

Only if we see lice on them. It's not like worms where they need to be treated regularly. In the 4 or so years we have kept chickens we have only seen lice on them twice, and the frontline gets rid of them within a few days.

[wendyg]

How easy is it to see lice?  I have 5 hens all with bare bums, but only managed to catch one to have a look, but could not see any obvious signs of lice.  Do you need to look very closely?  The hen we caught wasn't very keen on being held, so I couldn't look that closely.

Sorry to hijack thread.

[3Bluebelles]

The easiest way is to pick them up and look under their wings, and lift a few feathers up, examining the base of the feathers. You will see either the actual lice crawling, or clusters of eggs attached to the base of the feathers.

I think there are pictures on here somewhere. Search 'lice' on this site and I'm sure someone put pictures.

[joyfull]

Here you go:-
http://chat.allotment-garden.org/index.php?topic=5250.0

If you take a few minutes to read through the poultry FAQ section (above the hen house bit) you will find loads of useful things