Pest Populations Bloom In Early Spring & Late Winter
Goats can be host to two varieties of lice, both non-transmittable to humans as they are specific to the species but are highly contagious to other goats making them difficult, but not impossible, to eradicate. The two varieties of ticks goats are susceptible to are those that bite, and those who suck. Using food-grade diatomaceous earth to effectively manage and prevent a lice infestation can ensure your goats have a happy, healthy pest free life.
Early spring and late winter are when lice, tick & flea populations tend to bloom in numbers more rapidly. Whereas in the summer when you can keep your goat’s hair short, and the sun can keep pest numbers down – winter and spring infestations will likely take some additional intervention. While lice, tick & fleas are not life-threatening to healthy goats, they are uncomfortable and irritating to their skin, occasionally causing hair loss and potential anemia.
Symptoms Show Before The Bugs
A pest infestation is more often diagnosed by its symptoms rather than initial visual confirmation of the pests. If you part your goat’s hair, especially the hairs along their back, you will see small red headed bugs with brownish or yellow bodies. Biting lice variety will scurry out of view, the sucking lice will remain latched.
Pest eggs, nits, hatch about every 7 days, so treatment should be every 7 to 10 days as well until no signs of the nits or adult bugs are present. Take the time to choose the treatment you choose no only repels lice, tick & flea but also prevents the eggs from hatching and/or thriving.
Shaving To Control, Diatomaceous Earth To Prevent
To manage your pest population, shaving your goat’s fur as short as possible. With nothing to hold on to or to protect them from the sun, and the lice cannot survive. After shaving, clean out all the old bedding in their barn. Spreading a food-grade diatomaceous earth product like our Last Crawl™ Insect DEstroyer Insecticide Powder as a physical insecticide
that will not have any effect on the goats.
While no one looks forward to a lice, tick & flea infestation, these creatures are anything but indestructible. With a little preparation, regular treatment, and cleaning of their living spaces your goats will be able to live their best pest-free lives.
