How can chickens be treated for feather lice? - briefly
Apply a poultry‑safe insecticide spray or dust (e.g., pyrethrin, permethrin) to the bird’s plumage and nesting area, following label instructions. Repeat the treatment after 7–10 days and keep the coop clean to prevent reinfestation.
How can chickens be treated for feather lice? - in detail
Feather lice infestations cause irritation, feather loss, and reduced productivity in poultry. Effective control requires accurate diagnosis, immediate treatment, and ongoing management of the environment.
Identification begins with close inspection of the bird’s plumage. Adult lice appear as small, tan to brown insects moving rapidly through feathers; nymphs are lighter and slower. Scratching, feather damage, and scaly skin around the vent are common signs. A hand‑lens examination of a feather sample confirms the presence of lice.
Non‑chemical interventions include:
- Removing and cleaning nesting boxes, perches, and roosts with hot water (≥ 60 °C) or a 10 % bleach solution, then rinsing thoroughly.
- Replacing bedding with fresh, dry material after each cleaning cycle.
- Providing dust baths of fine sand or wood ash to encourage natural grooming behavior.
- Isolating heavily infested birds for 24–48 hours to limit spread.
When physical measures are insufficient, topical or systemic insecticides are applied. Products approved for poultry, such as permethrin spray, pyrethrin dust, or ivermectin injection, must follow label directions precisely. Typical usage:
- Permethrin 0.5 % spray: apply to the entire bird, covering head, neck, back, and vent, then allow to dry for 30 minutes before returning to the flock. Repeat after 7 days.
- Pyrethrin dust: dust the bird’s vent area and underwing feathers, ensuring full coverage; repeat in 5–7 days.
- Ivermectin injection: administer 0.2 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously; repeat after 10 days if lice persist.
Dosage calculations should consider the bird’s weight; a 2 kg chicken receives 0.4 mg ivermectin. Overdosing can cause toxicity, so precise measurement is mandatory.
Preventive measures reduce reinfestation risk:
- Maintain low humidity and adequate ventilation to discourage mite and lice development.
- Rotate bedding weekly and discard any material showing signs of infestation.
- Implement a regular health‑check schedule, inspecting a sample of birds weekly for early detection.
- Limit contact with wild birds and rodents, which can carry lice.
After treatment, monitor the flock for at least three weeks. Re‑examine a subset of birds every five days; absence of live lice confirms success. Record all interventions, dates, and observations to refine future control protocols.