Exactly How Do You Dust a Chicken for Lice?

Chickens can contract lice from other chickens in your flock as well as wild birds in the area. The lice live by feeding on the blood of the chicken and can cause irritation to the bird. Treating your chicken for lice involves a dusting of lice powder as well as treating the chicken coop to prevent re-infestations. You can dust your chicken for lice with a few simple steps and make your chicken more comfortable.

Things You'll Need

  • Old pair of nylon stockings
  • Scissors
  • Lice powder for poultry
  • Broom
  • Sprayable pesticide for lice
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Instructions

    • 1

      Cut a five-inch long section off of a pair of old stockings with the toe intact. Fill it half full of lice powder for poultry, which can be purchased at farm supply stores. Tie a knot in the open end of the stocking so that it creates a pouch. The powder will come out when pressure is applied, so carefully set it aside.

    • 2

      Capture your chicken, being careful not to injure the bird. Hold it upside down by its feet and allow the bird to calm down for a few moments if it is flapping its wings and showing signs of distress.

    • 3

      Use the powder puff you made out of old stockings to gently pat the bird. This will release powder onto the chicken. Pat against the grain of the feather growth to reach down to the skin to kill all the lice on your chicken. Put your chicken in a clean cage.

    • 4

      Sweep your chicken's coop while it is in a cage. Remove all feathers and debris with the broom --- lice can hide in old feathers, fecal matter and debris.

    • 5

      Spray your chicken's coop with pesticide for lice, which can be purchased at a farm supply store. Be sure to get the spray into corners and tight spots --- lice may be hiding in tiny cracks and crevices. Allow the coop to sit for 24 hours before putting your chicken back in it.