| | | | | | | | | | | For BYC education: treat any non-labeled parasiticide as a 'pet bird only' pathway unless you have a veterinarian and a defensible withdrawal plan. |
| Fluralaner oral solution (EXZOLT™) | Ectoparasiticide | Isoxazoline | Northern fowl mites (Ornithonyssus sylviarum) and the Poultry Red Mite* (Dermanyssus gallinae) *EU label only | Oral (medicated drinking water; 2 doses per label) | 0-day egg withdrawal per label (USA & EU) | USA: 11-day meat withdrawal. EU/UK: 14-day meat withdrawal | Yes (label includes laying hens) | FDA-approved for treatment/control of northern fowl mites in chickens (approved 2025; label-specific) | Dosage: 0.5 mg fluralaner per kg of body weight. Volume Equivalent: 0.05 mL of Exzolt solution per kg BW (or 0.023 mL per lb). Administered as (2) doses, seven (7) days apart. | | The first dose kills the adult mites feeding on the bird. The 7-day gap allows mite eggs in the environment to hatch, and the second dose kills those new larvae before they can reproduce, effectively breaking the life cycle. |
| Spinosad (Elector® PSP) **premises insecticide** | Ectoparasiticide (premises) | Spinosyn insecticide | Northern fowl mites; flies; darkling beetles (label-dependent) | Premises spray (facility treatment; label-dependent). Approved for Direct Bird Application (Elector PSP label - Elanco) | 0-day egg withdrawal per label | 0-day meat withdrawal per label | Label-dependent | Labeled for use in/around poultry premises; verify label for applications and any restrictions | Elector PSP is sold as a concentrated liquid that must be diluted. 9 mL per 1 Gallon (3.78 L) of water. Once mixed with water, the solution degrades within 24–48 hours. | | It is a fermentation product derived from the soil bacterium Saccharopolyspora spinosa. |
| Permethrin (garden/poultry dusts; sprays; commonly Gordon's, Martin's, ProZap, or GardStar) **insecticide** | Ectoparasiticide (topical/premises) | Synthetic pyrethroid | Lice; mites; some other ectoparasites (label-dependent) | Typically available in two main forms for poultry: 10% Emulsifiable Concentrate (EC) (liquid) and 0.25% Dust (powder). | 0-day egg withdrawal per label | 0-day meat withdrawal per label | Yes (label-dependent; many are used in layers with restrictions) | Many permethrin products are labeled for poultry and poultry houses; verify specific label | Liquid concentrate dilution: 1 part concentrate to 100 parts water (approx. 1.28 oz per gallon or 38 mL per gallon). Dust: 1 lb of dust per 100 birds. | | Permethrin kills adults and nymphs but is generally NOT ovicidal (does not kill eggs). Widespread resistance exists in Northern Fowl Mites and Red Mites due to decades of use. |
| Pyrethrins (e.g., pyrethrum-based sprays; commonly EverGreen, PyGanic, or Southern Ag) **insecticide** | Ectoparasiticide (topical/premises) | Botanical pyrethrins | Lice/mites (variable efficacy; label-dependent) | Topical/premises spray (label-dependent) | 0-day egg withdrawal per label | 0-day meat withdrawal per label | Yes (label-dependent; many are used in layers with restrictions) | Some products are labeled for poultry premises; verify label directions | Approx. 1 to 1.5 fl oz per gallon of water. Approximately 1 gallon of diluted spray per 100 birds. | | Pyrethrins are natural extracts from chrysanthemum flowers, often combined with a synergist like piperonyl butoxide (PBO) to prevent insects from recovering. Many pyrethrin products (like PyGanic) are OMRI-listed for organic |
| Ivermectin (Ivomec® Pour-On, Noromectin® Pour-On) | Endectocide (worms + mites) (off-label in poultry) | Macrocyclic lactone | Some nematodes; some external parasites (mites/lice) (variable) | Oral / topical / injectable (species products; poultry use off-label) | 12-week egg withdrawal (no U.S. poultry tolerance; residues a major concern) | 12-week meat withdrawal | No (U.S. food birds) | Not approved for any poultry species in the U.S.; no tolerance for egg/meat residues | 0.2 mg/kg - 0.4 mg/kg (0.02 ml/lb - 0.04 ml/lb) Topical formulation, two doses 10-14 days apart applied to the skin at the base of the neck. One drop equals approximately 0.05 ml | | Highly liphylic (concentrates in fat tissue/egg yolk). Seek alternatives if possible. |
| Selamectin (Revolution®) | Endectocide (pet-bird only; off-label) | Macrocyclic lactone | Mites/lice and some nematodes (species-dependent) | Topical | Very high (food birds) 12 weeks | Very high (food birds) 12 weeks | No (food birds) | Not labeled for poultry food production; treat as non-food only | Transdermal: 6 mg/kg to 18 mg/kg. | | Do not consume eggs from treated birds. If consumption is necessary, a "lifetime" withdrawal or a conservative 12 weeks is often suggested, but without data, safety cannot be guaranteed. |
| Fipronil (Frontline®) ILLEAGAL IN FOOD-PRODUCING ANIMALS | Endectocide (pet-bird only; off-label) | Phenylpyrazoles | Mites, Lice, Fleas. | Topical | NO ESTABLISHED WITHDRAWAL (Lifetime Ban) | NO ESTABLISHED WITHDRAWAL (Lifetime Ban) | No (dog and cat only) | BANNED in food-producing animals. | Fipronil is not approved by the FDA or EMA for any food-producing animal. Its use in poultry is a violation of federal law in the US and EU. | | In 2017, a massive food safety scandal occurred in Europe when a pest control company illegally mixed fipronil into a "natural" mite treatment for chickens. |
| Eprinomectin (mammals; not for poultry food chain) | Endectocide (mammals) | Macrocyclic lactone | Some nematodes; some external parasites (mites/lice) (variable) | Topical pour-on / injectable (mammal products) | Very high | Very high | No | Not labeled for poultry; treat as non-food only if used in pet birds under veterinary direction | Standard Cattle Dose: 0.5 mg/kg | | Like other pour-ons, efficacy is variable in ducks/geese due to waterproofing oils; injection or oral dosing (off-label) is sometimes preferred by vets. |
| Wettable sulfur powder(90% organic sulfar; commonly Yellow Jacket Wettable Sulfur, Hi-Yield Wettable Sulfur) **non-drug control** | Non-drug ectoparasite control | 90% Sulfur powder | Some mites/lice on skin/feathers (variable) | Topical application/dust bath/use with caution - skin and eye irritant | 0-day egg withdrawal per label | 0-day meat withdrawal per label | Yes (label includes laying hens) | Non-drug topical; poultry suitability is product-specific and often not intended for birds, Approved for organic flocks | Mix 1 part sulfur to 9 parts sand/dirt/peat moss. | | The prevailing theory is that when sulfur dust contacts the bird's warm skin, it slowly converts into trace amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas or sulfur dioxide. This gas acts as a local fumigant in the feather layer, suffocating or poisoning the mites. |
| Food Grade Diatomaceous earth (DE) **non-drug control** | Non-drug ectoparasite control | Silica-based desiccant dust | External parasites (mites/lice) in environment; variable on-bird effect | Premises dusting (environment) | None (non-drug), but safety concerns if misused | None (non-drug), but safety concerns if misused | Yes (environmental use) | Non-drug; product quality varies; not an FDA drug. (GRAS - Generally Recognized As Safe) | Add 5-10% DE to the sand/dirt in a dust bath area. Keep dry | | Respiratory Risk: Wear a mask when applying. Avoid "clouds" of dust in the coop. Apply low to the ground or when birds are outside. |
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