How can you eliminate lice from chickens at home? - briefly
Apply a poultry‑safe insecticide spray or dust (e.g., permethrin, pyrethrin) directly to the birds and thoroughly treat the coop, bedding, and surrounding area with diatomaceous earth. Maintain regular cleaning, occasional bathing, and strict biosecurity to prevent recurrence.
How can you eliminate lice from chickens at home? - in detail
Lice infestations in backyard poultry develop quickly in warm, humid conditions. Early detection relies on visual inspection of the vent area, feather shafts, and skin folds for small, grayish insects or their dark fecal spots. Once confirmed, an integrated approach combines environmental sanitation, topical treatments, and preventive measures.
Environmental sanitation
- Remove all bedding, litter, and droppings; discard or heat‑treat at 130 °C for 30 minutes.
- Clean coops with a strong detergent, rinse thoroughly, and allow to dry completely.
- Apply a diluted bleach solution (1 % sodium hypochlorite) to hard surfaces, then rinse.
- Replace bedding with fresh, absorbent material such as pine shavings.
Topical treatments
- Dust the birds with a fine, insecticidal powder containing pyrethrin or permethrin; follow label dosage, spread evenly over the entire plumage, and repeat after 7 days.
- For organic options, use diatomaceous earth (food‑grade) applied as a dust; ensure birds cannot inhale large particles.
- A liquid spray of diluted neem oil (1 % solution) can be applied to the vent area and feather bases; repeat every 3–4 days for two weeks.
- In severe cases, a veterinary‑prescribed spray containing spinosad may be used, observing withdrawal periods for eggs and meat.
Systemic medication
- Oral ivermectin, administered at 0.2 mg/kg body weight, eliminates lice throughout the host; a single dose is often sufficient, but veterinary guidance is required.
Preventive practices
- Keep coop temperature below 25 °C and improve ventilation to reduce humidity.
- Rotate litter weekly and maintain a dry, clean environment.
- Limit contact with wild birds and rodents that can introduce ectoparasites.
- Conduct weekly inspections, focusing on the vent region and feather bases.
Effective control demands thorough cleaning, appropriate insecticidal application, and consistent monitoring. Re‑treatment after the lice life cycle (approximately 10 days) prevents re‑infestation. Veterinary consultation ensures correct drug selection and adherence to food‑safety regulations.