Red Mite trick

[RichmondHens]

Poor Glady & Buffy are really quite bad, lots of egg clusters, but there doesn't seem to be one louse on the other four. They've all been dusted and I was very heavy handed with the powder around the tail ends especially. There haven't been any eggs from Buffy this week, except a soft-shelled one that I think was hers. Poor girlie, must be feeling bad.

I check them nearly every week for parasites ........

I'll definitely re-dust Gladys & Buffy in four days then ........

Jules

If they have egg clusters, pull the feathers out that have them on. Sounds painful I know but necessary to prevent spread. Grasp bird firmly in one hand by legs, up end so bum pointing in your face and pluck affected feathers with the other, quickly. They will protest at first but press on.

An egg cluster takes a while to build up so maybe you need to check more frequently ...... also have they had access to soil to dustbathe in? If they are just on grass often the problem is they have nowhere to bathe, so can't get rid of the lice as they pop up. Always a good reason for letting birds out of the coop to free range as often as possible. When I have broodies in coops I tip potfuls of molehill into the coop (we have loads of moles) for them to bathe in, as well as louse-powdering them, so they can dust themselves too.

[julesapple]

If they have egg clusters, pull the feathers out that have them on. Sounds painful I know but necessary to prevent spread. Grasp bird firmly in one hand by legs, up end so bum pointing in your face and pluck affected feathers with the other, quickly. They will protest at first but press on.

An egg cluster takes a while to build up so maybe you need to check more frequently ...... also have they had access to soil to dustbathe in? If they are just on grass often the problem is they have nowhere to bathe, so can't get rid of the lice as they pop up. Always a good reason for letting birds out of the coop to free range as often as possible. When I have broodies in coops I tip potfuls of molehill into the coop (we have loads of moles) for them to bathe in, as well as louse-powdering them, so they can dust themselves too.

They've got lots of dustbaths all round the garden that they've created, plus the big dust area next to the henhouse. That one is topped up with compost every so often, cos they spread it everywhere. Gladys & Buffy are the two that dust themselves less that the others...any idea why?

They are always free range, as there's always someone at home. They only go in the house to roost and lay.

Jules

[RichmondHens]

There is a theory that birds who frequently pick up lice have an underlying problem (not necessarily apparent to the keeper). It's really difficult to say. I have a bantam who is very prone to lice. I have to keep a close eye on her. I can inspect the whole flock and she is always the one I find lice on, when all the others are clear. She looks and seems otherwise fit and well and lays regularly.

As you long as you acknowledge they have lice and treat accordingly, there is not much more you can do except try and keep on top of it. Also, I would continue to treat ALL your birds, not just the affected ones.

I would disagree with one point though, I don't think lice are any more active in summer than winter. In summer the birds have a chance to get rid of them through regular dusting, but in winter with the wet ground etc, the opportunities to bathe become fewer and that's when the lice can build up, so keep on checking.