Windjammer Loft
891 posts
Aug 19, 2009
9:13 AM
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Don't worry,it's not what you think...... Last week while flying a youngbird kit I picked up a "stray",banded bird . One of those instances when you turn your back, "shit" happens... I didn't notice her trapping in with my birds. When I went in to feed them,about 15 minutes later that's then I noticed her. I took her out and placed her in a separate cage. It took me 2 days to locate her owner,who lived only 8 miles away. So,I returned her... Today after flying that same kit,while feeding them,I took some time to just sit and watch them eat. On one particlular bird I noticed some little dark lines on its neck and chest. After further examination I discovered that they were
"LICE". I checked the whole kit and most of them had
"LICE" on them. I went to the medicine cabinet and gave them a dose of "Diatomaceous Earth". I checked all my other birds,all were clear of visible "LICE". I gave them all dose of treated feed immediately.
So....the next time you see a "STRAY" flying with your birds,think twice about letting it land or trap with them.
Just a word of CAUTION...
Fly High and Roll On
Paul
Last Edited by on Aug 19, 2009 9:28 AM
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T-town-rollers
86 posts
Aug 19, 2009
9:39 AM
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Does Diatomacous Earth get rid of lice thru feeding ? I use it for worming and to dust the nest boxes & floors. But I didn't know it would get rid of lice. Thats good to know. I am going to try it today on my birds. I noticed a few lice on one of my kits. And it
happened just the same way it did with you. I had a stray bird come in with my kit. It was an older bird and I'll bet thats what happened with mine.
Thank You Lee-T-town-rollers
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steve49
196 posts
Aug 19, 2009
12:14 PM
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Paul, how are you using the DE? is it the same stuff that swimming pool filters use? also, isn't it fast to see lice on your birds only after one day? how long was the stray in with your birds? i say this because i had treated my 2 kits (spray) and they were clean for over a month, but on closer inspection yesterday, i did see one on one bird. so, i think they may always be around, especially during warm weather, and maybe they're living in the kitbox, and reinfest the birds periodically?
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Steve in Blue Point, NY
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J_Star
2104 posts
Aug 19, 2009
7:07 PM
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No it is not the same as the pool stuff. You can purchase it from the Garden Centre. You can also use Saven Dust which will work quicker. There is an article about DE in the article section. Read it and it will provide you with lots of info.
Jay
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PR_rollers
GOLD MEMBER
3291 posts
Aug 19, 2009
7:23 PM
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I spray all my kitbox with permetrin in a spray bottle with water and all my birds once. after that I spray everyday vinegar after scrapeing perches and my birds are free of lice..epsom salt in the bath water too..----------
Ralph.
Life comes down to the choices you make, and then living with the results.
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Pumpkin Man
142 posts
Aug 20, 2009
5:34 AM
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To my knowledge DE is a kind of clay like particle that is sharp and although the pieces are small they are sharp enough to irritate paraites and they leave the host animal. It's one of the prescribed tools in the organic livestock producers arsenal. Seems like it would also irritate the birds. It's meant to be used outside the animal kind of like a dust. I'm VERY skeptical of it's effectiveness. Sounds kind of like snake oil to me. I use a poultry dust with permethrin. If I was trying to go the organic route I would try making a a spray by crushing up some garlic or chrysanthemums or marigolds and spraying that on the birds. I'm a part time organic farm insepctor and I've never had anybody that has used DE claim it to very effective. I have however heard that feeding ground up walnut hulls used very sparingly (don't know the actual rate) is an effective cattle wormer for those doing organic cattle.
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Windjammer Loft
893 posts
Aug 20, 2009
6:23 AM
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I forgot to mention that I quickly changed all the water fountains and added "fresh" crushed garlic...sorry
steve49....I use a spray on oil,like Pam. I put about a 1/2 cup(per kit)of wheat in a bowl and spray,then sprinkle generiously the Diatomaceous Earth and mix well. I dust the birds with it too.
Since it is the end of my breeding season,this incident couldn't have happened at a better time.... LOL. This weekend I will be doing my annual bird house cleaning.(Oh Joy)... Removing all floor treatments,scraaping perches and spraying dowm with "bleach"..
Fly High and Roll On
Paul
Last Edited by on Aug 20, 2009 6:39 AM
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