Lice and Mites

Other Names

 External parasites

Organism or Mechanism

• Cuclotogater heterographus (head louse)
• Menacanthus stramineus (body louse)
• Menopon gallinae (shaft louse)
• Lipeurus caponis (wing louse)
• Dermanyssus gallinae (red mite)
• Ornithonyssus sylviarium (Northern fowl mite)

Preventative Measures

• Lime runs yearly and fumigate with cayenne pepper.
• Keep wild birds, especially bird nests out of poultry houses.
• Paint roosts and nest boxes with oil.


Management Treatments

• Dust with flowers of sulfur.
• Provide dust bath of coal dust and road dust.
• Add wood ashes in dust bath.
• Add derris powder, quassia chip powder, cinders, and powdered charcoal to dust baths weekly.
• Add elecampane and fleabane to nest boxes.
• Place dried tobacco leaves in nest boxes.
• Rest runs and houses for at least 10 months after an outbreak since mites can live for up to 9 months off the chicken without a meal.
• For mites use Bacillus thuringiensis, predatory mites, or an application of silica dust.
• Encourage Coleoptera beetles to live and breed in poultry houses to control mites.
• Lightly blowtorch the areas of infestation, followed by washing down and disinfecting.


Physical Treatments

• Dust birds with tabacco.
• For chicks rub eucalyptus oil on the head.
• Mix 1 oz. of cedar oil mixed with 1 pint of other oil and apply to the neck and back.
• For young chicks mix 2 parts glycerin with 1 part carbolic acid mix together and add to 5 parts water; add to sprouting feathers.


Nutritional Treatments


Herbal Treatments

• Feed garlic.


Homeopathic Treatments