Hen lice?

johngalway

Mate of mine has about 20 hens. Seems to have a problem with lice, they also had it about 18months to two years ago. He's heard about some product or other that you put into the hen house and set alight, which then fumigates the hen house. Any of you knowledgeable folks know what it's name might be or have any other helpful suggestions for him?

Thanks in advance

John

reilig

Malathion made up in a spray bottle will kill the lice (If you can still buy it - its years since we had it).

But at the end of the day he needs to find the root of the problem - its usually overcrowding.

The hen house also needs a complete clean out and disinfecting and a new dry bed put into it!!

sarciegit

yeah that chemical is illegal now can't remember the name, we used to use it on poultry units at home it's deadly if the person that was using wasn't suited uphttp://shop.maceoinltd.com/maceoinltd/index.php?cPath=51&osCsid=c0a5017ffff708f19ba4ab8e1a00dac3
get your mate to check this guy out will have everything he needs

reilig

Just checked,

Malathion is available in most local chemists under the brand names Derbac-M, Prioderm and Suleo-M at under €10. Its one of the mildest treatments for lice available and is recommended for treatment of humans and animals.

LostCovey

reilig wrote: »

Just checked,

Malathion is available in most local chemists under the brand names Derbac-M, Prioderm and Suleo-M at under €10. Its one of the mildest treatments for lice available and is recommended for treatment of humans and animals.

Well said Reilig.

sarciegit is probably thinking about the general ban on organophosphates. Malathion is an exception.

From the Irish Medicines Board website:

Malathion
The IMB has been made aware of recent media reports suggesting that absorption of malathion could result in children receiving 5-10 times the recommended limit for occupational exposure. This claim is based on a small unpublished study and the IMB has not to date seen any scientifically validated data to warrant immediate regulatory action. Comment and clarification of the media reports has been sought from the relevant companies and the IMB will consider any appropriate action in the light of information which would alter the benefit/risk profile of this treatment.
Malathion is an organophosphate which has been authorised in Ireland for some years specifically for the treatment of head and pubic lice. It is absorbed through the skin in small amounts but is rapidly detoxified and has little effect on cholinesterase (the mechanism by which other organophosphates are toxic). To date the IMB has received only isolated adverse reaction reports associated with use of malathion products. Prescribers/pharmacists should remind patients that products should only be used when necessary and in accordance with the information provided.

sarciegit

johngalway wrote: »

Mate of mine has about 20 hens. Seems to have a problem with lice, they also had it about 18months to two years ago. He's heard about some product or other that you put into the hen house and set alight, which then fumigates the hen house. Any of you knowledgeable folks know what it's name might be or have any other helpful suggestions for him?

Thanks in advance

John

I was thinking of the "fire", what we used to do was drop Acid (Hydrochloric) into Potassium permanganate which would "ignite" when combined to release chlorine gas to disinfect large areas at a time

Chicken Run

No idea about the fire, sorry, but I use Poultry Shield to clean out the henhouse every couple of months - it's a concentrate which you can make up in a pressure sprayer and give the whole place a good blast. Don't have to keep the hens out either, just till it dries.

Also some stuff called Diatomaceous Earth which you can just add to a bucket of dry earth/cold fire ash/anything they can dustbath in which kills the lice (cos manually powdering each hen is a proper pain in the butt)

No idea where to get them here, sorry, bought mine from the UK.

MJordan

I'm looking to keep some hens and have heard that if I had a plastic hen house / chicken coop that it would be easier to wash and maintain? Can anybody shed any light on this comment?

What conditions causes these lice to take hold?

What is the effect on the hens?

How easy are they to eradicate?

Where can I get info on building / buying a plastic chicken coop? More importantly can somebody recommend a plastic hen house they have used and are happy.

Chicken Run

MJordan wrote: »

I'm looking to keep some hens and have heard that if I had a plastic hen house / chicken coop that it would be easier to wash and maintain? Can anybody shed any light on this comment?

What conditions causes these lice to take hold?

What is the effect on the hens?

How easy are they to eradicate?

Where can I get info on building / buying a plastic chicken coop? More importantly can somebody recommend a plastic hen house they have used and are happy.

I had an "Eglu" and they are the daddy of plastic henhouses but cost a lot to buy new. Couldn't fault it and it was so easy to clean, but we got more hens so needed summat bigger (it holds up to 4).
Ebay sometimes have secondhand ones.

No idea with the other questions, sorry, not had lice yet

Akey Mullinz

the one you are talking about is tixol , it was a dip for sheep but we used it for fumigating dogs ,dog boxes, hen houses ferrets , ferret boxes ,etc . until I happened to mention it to my vet one day and he told me to get rid of it immediately , there has been no side effeffeffects thhhhoughhh !

what happen

hi i was looking into buying a jfc plastic green hen house coop it holds 4to 6 hens and has a rain harvesting device.it was 300 euro i though it was too dear so i did not buy it. it looks a great job .

MJordan

Chicken Run wrote: »

they are the daddy of plastic henhouses but cost a lot to buy new

you're not kidding @ €645, it is way out of the ball park

Anybody have the JFC Plastic Chicken Coop?
Is it a good buy?
Where would I get one?

Where is the best place to get Lice free Hens?:D