Interesting discussion, particularly Royce's info on withdrawal periods.
Not recommended for poultry for the production of eggs or meat!
Manufacturers need to cover themselves when their products are used off-label. It doesn't mean it's necessarily unsafe, just that it hasn't been tested & approved and they assume no responsibility for off-label use - you're on your own. We use a lot of off-label meds with goats, since there aren't very many that have been tested & approved (apparently we aren't a large enough share of the market to justify the expense).
For the same reason: not encouraging off-label use of insecticides and anyone who chooses to does so at their own risk.
I've personally been using a combination of Absorbine Ultra Shield EX and Frontline Spray. I alternate between the 2 in hopes of avoiding resistance. I've never used the vials of Frontline because I had heard there was an extra ingredient, but I just noticed that's the Frontline Plus, Fipronil appears to be the only active ingredient in the Top Spot, so may try that - certainly easier than spray and cheaper as well. The primary ingredient in the Ultra Shield is Permethrin, not sure why it works better than the Permethrin I've mix here to the same concentration, but I suspect it may be the addition of the synergist Piperonyl Butoxide. But whatever the reason, I've had better luck than with the straight Permethrin.
My "cooties" story was before my first show. I had several birds in one pen that looked awful, were losing weight, had ratty looking feathers, etc., and I was at a loss as to what to do. They were fed free choice and wormed and dusted regularly, so mites/lice weren't really on my radar. The morning I was leaving for the show I found several in bad shape & one died. The ones I was planning on showing, who were in a different pen, looked ok, but, fearing a horrible disease epidemic, I scratched everything and sent the dead one for a necropsy. I was mortified when they told me it died from a severe lice infestation - couldn't believe I didn't see it, but I really wasn't looking, since I *thought* I was treating/preventing (lesson learned - don't rely solely on dust), and in my inexperience I mistook the nits for dander (those birds hadn't finished moulting). It took about a month of weekly treatments to get them under control, then monthly for about a year. Now I treat quarterly.
Mike, I think I've ask you this before but I don't remember, how do you administer the Ivermectin? I keep the injectable on hand and give it to the goats & dogs orally. Do I put it in the chickens water like I do the Wazine, or spray them with Pour-On?