[bloomer]

I can take my boy out of the house at night and he's sweet as a lamb....put his head under your coat when dusting his backside 

It's probably lice but they are a different kind of what takes our children as a host! Diatom should work on both but you should prick out the feathers with the egg pouches and burn - not a nice job. The poor birds might benefit from a nappy rash cream on the sore and most likely bold areas around it!

egg pouches are they the white crusty looking things?

when you say prick out do you mean pull out?

[northfifeduckling]

yup, white or gray, size depends on severeness of infestation

yes, you need to pull the feathers....