Lice
The most common poultry parasites are lice. They spend
their entire life cycle on the body of the bird.
Symptoms - Skin irritation, scabs, ruffled feathers,
diarrhea, small weight gains or decrease in egg production, some dead young
chickens when infestations are heavy.
Treatment - Infested chickens on raised floors, in cages
or ranging free should be sprayed or dusted with malathion, carbaryl, pyrethins,
naled, coumaphos or similar preparations, using a crop sprayer. In deep - litter
systems, the litter and all equipment except feeders and waterers can be sprayed
or dusted. Where chemicals are too expensive or not available, some farmers use
a mixture of ashes with sulphur powder or gun powder obtained from the local
market. About 20 grams of sulphur powder to 1 kg of cold ashes or a 1:50 ratio
is said to be quite effective.
Prevention - Keep nests clean. If you use roosts, paint
them with nicotine sulfate - the bird's body
heat will create fumes that kill the lice. Some use
creosote in the cracks and joints of roosts (carbolineum).
their entire life cycle on the body of the bird.
Symptoms - Skin irritation, scabs, ruffled feathers,
diarrhea, small weight gains or decrease in egg production, some dead young
chickens when infestations are heavy.
Treatment - Infested chickens on raised floors, in cages
or ranging free should be sprayed or dusted with malathion, carbaryl, pyrethins,
naled, coumaphos or similar preparations, using a crop sprayer. In deep - litter
systems, the litter and all equipment except feeders and waterers can be sprayed
or dusted. Where chemicals are too expensive or not available, some farmers use
a mixture of ashes with sulphur powder or gun powder obtained from the local
market. About 20 grams of sulphur powder to 1 kg of cold ashes or a 1:50 ratio
is said to be quite effective.
Prevention - Keep nests clean. If you use roosts, paint
them with nicotine sulfate - the bird's body
heat will create fumes that kill the lice. Some use
creosote in the cracks and joints of roosts (carbolineum).