Claire Thompson
If you're a poultry owner, you're likely to have to deal with chicken lice at some point. These external parasites can cause major discomfort and health issues for your flock if left untreated. Luckily, there are natural treatments that can help get rid of these creepy crawlies. The first step is to examine your chickens for lice and their eggs, which will be visible on the skin of the belly and around the vent. You can then treat the lice with natural products such as food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE), wood ash, or a natural insecticidal powder treatment. You can also create a natural mixture of water, dish soap, and oil, or garlic juice and essential oil, and spray it directly on your chickens and around their coop.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How to identify lice | Lice will be visible on the skin of the belly and around the vent. They move quickly, so look thoroughly. Lice eggs will be seen at the base and on the shaft of the feather. |
| How to prevent lice | Keep the chicken coop clean, especially during warmer months. |
| Natural treatments | Diatomaceous Earth (DE), wood ash, water-dish soap-oil mixture, garlic, oregano, Flowers of Sulphur, and natural insecticidal powder. |
| Treatment schedule | Treat chickens for 4 weeks, inspecting them every week after the first treatment. |
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What You'll Learn
Identify lice and separate lethargic chickens
To identify lice on your chickens, part their feathers and look for lice or lice eggs near the base of the feathers, particularly in less-feathered areas like the vent, breast, and thigh. You can also check the skin of the belly, where lice will be visible and crawling quickly.
It's important to check all your chickens, as lice can spread from contact with other chickens, as well as wild birds and rodents. Assume that your entire flock could have lice or lice eggs, even if you only notice it on one chicken.
If you notice lethargy in any of your chickens, separate them from the rest of the flock. Lethargy could be a sign of anemia, which can be caused by mites or lice.
Once you've identified and separated any lethargic chickens, you can begin treatment for the entire flock. While there are various natural treatments for chicken lice, one method is to dust the chickens with food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE), a natural product made from fossilized algae that suffocates and kills lice. You can also use wood ash, which will also kill mites and lice.
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Treat with food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) or wood ash
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a naturally occurring type of sedimentary rock. When ground, it creates a white powder that can be sprinkled into a chicken's dust bathing area or directly onto their feathers. It is important to use a food-grade brand, and to avoid breathing it in or getting it into the chicken's eyes. Diatomaceous earth is deadly to mites and lice, as it works by suffocating them. It is also possible to create a liquid spray using diatomaceous earth.
Wood ash is a more natural alternative to diatomaceous earth. It can be used in a similar way, by creating a dust bath for chickens or by rubbing it directly onto their skin. It is important to ensure there is plenty of wood ash in the dust bathing area for at least four weeks.
Both diatomaceous earth and wood ash can be used to treat lice and mites in chickens. They are natural alternatives to chemical treatments, which can be harmful to chickens, humans, and the environment.
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Create a bathing area with wood ash
If you don't have a dust bath area for your chickens, consider creating one in your yard. Chickens will use a dust bath naturally, which helps prevent parasites before they become a problem.
To create a bathing area with wood ash, follow these steps:
- Find a suitable location in your yard to set up the bathing area. Choose a spot that is easily accessible for your chickens and has enough space for them to bathe comfortably.
- Build a simple structure to contain the wood ash. This could be a shallow wooden box, a large tray, or even just a designated area marked off with some borders. The size of the structure will depend on the number of chickens you have and their size. Make sure it is big enough for them to move around and bathe freely.
- Collect or purchase wood ash. You can create your own wood ash by burning dry wood in a fire pit or fireplace and then collecting the ashes once they have cooled down completely. Alternatively, you can purchase wood ash from garden centres or online.
- Fill the structure with a layer of wood ash. Make sure the layer is thick enough for your chickens to dust bathe in and naturally kill mites and lice. A few inches of wood ash should be sufficient.
- Encourage your chickens to use the bathing area by placing it in a convenient location and ensuring it is easily accessible. You can also add some treats or incentives, such as their favourite snacks, to encourage them to explore and use the bathing area.
- Maintain the bathing area by regularly checking and replenishing the wood ash. Over time, the wood ash may become dirty or less effective, so it is important to clean it out and add fresh wood ash as needed.
By creating a bathing area with wood ash, you provide your chickens with a natural and effective way to treat and prevent chicken lice. This method is a more natural alternative to other treatments and can help keep your chickens healthy and parasite-free.
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Clean the coop with DE and lock chickens out
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is a naturally occurring type of sedimentary rock. When ground up, it creates a white powder that can be sprinkled into your chicken's dust bathing area or directly onto their feathers. It is important to use a food-grade brand and to be careful not to breathe it in or get it in the chicken's eyes. DE works by suffocating the lice.
Wood ash is a more natural alternative to DE. You can rub your chickens down with wood ash and a little dusty dirt to kill mites and lice. Make sure there is plenty of wood ash in the dust bathing area for the next four weeks.
To clean the coop with DE, follow these steps:
- Thoroughly clean out the coop, including roosts and nesting boxes.
- Apply a good layer of DE to the entire coop, including roosts and nesting boxes.
- Do not put bedding down for one hour.
- Do not allow chickens back into the coop for two hours to let the dust settle. Lock them in their run or allow them to free-range without coop access for a total of two hours.
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Re-inspect chickens in a week and repeat
Re-inspecting chickens after a week and repeating treatment is crucial to breaking the lice life cycle. Lice eggs hatch every 7 to 10 days, so re-inspection and retreatment are necessary to catch and kill newly hatched lice.
To effectively re-inspect your chickens for lice, follow these steps:
- Examine all chickens: Check the skin of the belly and around the vent for crawling lice. Also, look for lice eggs at the base and on the shaft of the feathers.
- Separate affected chickens: If you notice lethargy or anaemia, separate these chickens from the rest of the flock.
- Treat affected chickens: Dust the skin of chickens with food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE) or wood ash. You can also use a natural insecticidal powder, such as Lice Away, which contains ingredients like wormwood, neem, ginger, and lavender.
- Provide a dust bath: Create a dust bathing area filled with wood ash or diatomaceous earth, allowing chickens to self-groom and remove lice.
- Clean and treat the coop: Thoroughly clean the coop and apply a layer of diatomaceous earth to roosts and nesting boxes. Keep chickens out of the coop for 2 hours to allow the dust to settle.
- Repeat treatment: Continue treating for 4 weeks to ensure all lice and their eggs are eliminated.
Remember, consistency is key when treating chicken lice. By re-inspecting and repeating treatment weekly, you can effectively break the lice life cycle and prevent reinfestation.
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Frequently asked questions
Lice will be visible on the skin of the belly and around the vent. They move quickly, so look thoroughly. Lice eggs will be seen at the base and on the shaft of the feather.
You can use wood ash or food-grade diatomaceous earth (DE). Fill a dust bathing area with either of these substances and let the chickens use it naturally. You can also rub the chickens down with these substances.
Lice eggs hatch every 7 to 10 days. Inspect your chickens again in exactly one week after the first treatment, and continue treating for 4 weeks.
Keep your coop clean, especially during warmer months. Clean out bedding and resting areas. You can also use a natural mite spray made from water, dish soap, and oil.
Chickens with lice may appear anemic or lethargic.
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