The Dogmother Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 They ought to grow out of their own accord, but if there are loads of them you might want to soften it by bathing and ease it off. One of the chooks in my friend's flock had a sort of mat of eggs and dead skin - we soaked it in a 10% Poultry Shield solution and gently removed it. It was causing her some discomfort and she was pulling at it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajayb Posted June 4, 2009 Share Posted June 4, 2009 Thanks for that, Claire. I've ordered some Poultry Shield concentrate and I'll attempt the bathing with diluted solution when it arrives. I have to say, I was relieved to see from the Forum that so many folk have been having the lice problem too: you immediately think you're doing something wrong when it happens to your animals! Hopefully, the hens will be sorted now for the summer, but at least I now know what to look out for in future. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 4, 2009 Author Share Posted June 4, 2009 I know, it's like headlice - you're always horrified the first time it happens to you. They're spread by wild birds, so are extremely common. Weather conditions this year have meant that there are loads around! I tend to inspect the girls whenever I get close enough to pick one of them up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted June 6, 2009 Share Posted June 6, 2009 I picked up a bottle of johnsons anti - mite extra today. It's acive ingredient is permethrin - will the egg withdrawal period be a week? If so then would I be just as well off using the frontline spray *not licenced for chickens* that the vet gave me when I couldn't get rid of the critters before. I don't think they have lice, but poor old barry is looking awful due to Primrose's nasty bullying ways and a moult that seems to go on and on and on. What do you recommend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 6, 2009 Author Share Posted June 6, 2009 You only need to spray them if you find lice or mites. Permethrin does have an egg withdrawal period, but at least it gets both lice and mites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbie Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 My GingerNut Ranger has had poop sticking to her feathers for a while and my dad has noticed all around her vent is red. Is this NFM and as her bottom is red can I still use the advised treatments above ? gingerNut seems fine and is laying quite happily though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicken Licken Posted June 22, 2009 Share Posted June 22, 2009 I woulld suggest a tepid bowl of water to give her a wash in (much easier as a 2 person job - one to hold and one to wash). Gently loosen off any dried poop and pat her dry with an old towel. You will then easily be able to see down to the skin and see if she has visitors - if she looks red and sore but there are no critters then a dose of purple spray usually does the trick - it is an antiseptic and will soothe the skin down a bit. If she has lice or mites then Johnsons mite spray seems to get a good response here. I use barrier louse powder as a preventative and put it in the nest box and eglu when I clean it out - there are an awful lot of red mite around this year so keep your eyes peeled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 22, 2009 Author Share Posted June 22, 2009 A red vent and pooey fluff doesn't necessarily mean that she has NFM, but it's a good bet. Having said that, there are any number of other things that cause that too. The mites (and lice) do like to feed at the softer, moist skin around the vent though. Once you've got rid of them, the skin ought to return to normal. As chicken licken has said, purple spray is good as is the tea tree cream. Best all get yer chooks upside down and check their lady parts! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abbie Posted June 23, 2009 Share Posted June 23, 2009 well my dad has washed and disinfected the Eglu and bathed the gingernut no signs of mites or lice but her bottom is pinky red and missing some feathers. my dad thinks it may be a case of feather pecking and has ordered some purple spray to ease any pain and some anti pecking spray. Dad also bathed the pepperpot and no sign of mites or lice or any of the symptoms the gingernut had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 23, 2009 Author Share Posted June 23, 2009 Their skin is mean to be covered with feathers, so it gets very dry and sore when exposed - rather like if you sunburnt your botty! The purple spray is very soothing for that, especially if you get the one with aloe vera in it. I also like to use the Johnson's tea tree cream on them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimbo_frog Posted June 26, 2009 Share Posted June 26, 2009 I have a little question to ask... (it seems to be always me on the forum asking questions at the mo) I have found some lice on my girls while doing the monthly clean thro... Ive got some Johnsons Spray as I dont want to wait til monday for anything else... So will be treating all my girls later on today... My question is...My broody girl is sitting on her eggs... -do I treat her now?... Im moving her to her own hutch/run tonite and eggs due to hatch this weekend -Is it ok for me to treat while they eggs or when they are chicks or wait a couple of weeks? ARGHH....Im not having a very good day today.... Thank you in advance to all replies.... Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donna_0 Posted June 27, 2009 Share Posted June 27, 2009 Yep I 've just found lice on our two (squirms eugh) treated them with the spray from pets at home.. I found it really easy to spot this time round as they had them last year and the signs were that they stopped laying and were preening a lot. Think I caught them early this time -Margot Maggie RIP my lovely Barbara Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 27, 2009 Author Share Posted June 27, 2009 This year is a bad 'un guys, so keep vigilant! Kimbo, treat her when you move her at night, but keep it low-key and no fuss so that she's not disturbed. I prefer to treat broodies before setting them, but it's not a problem to do them now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimbo_frog Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Hi Claret Thanx for the reply, Unfortunatly she now has her chicks!! so can I still treat her? Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 28, 2009 Author Share Posted June 28, 2009 The only treatments you can safely use on her now are any of the Ivermectin based spot on products *not licenced for use on poultry in the UK* or the Barrier Red Mite powder. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kimbo_frog Posted June 28, 2009 Share Posted June 28, 2009 Thank you claret most helpful! Kim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted June 29, 2009 Author Share Posted June 29, 2009 You're most welcome Kim. I have a couple of broodies at the moment - not on eggs - and this weather is terrbile for lice and crawlies; I have washed both of them in a solution of Poultry Shield, then sprsyed them with the johnson's spray *not licenced for use on poultry in the UK* and popped them in the broody cage to cool off. They were both refusing to come off the nest box and weer getting thin For anyone thinking of settting a broody on eggs, i'd recommend dusting or treating them first if you can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FruitandNutCake Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Sorry if I have missed this somewhere - but what is best to use for cleaning the coop to kill the mites? I seem to have lots of white mites (almost like flour mites) that are grouped together in large groups. I tried spraying with johnsons but that didn't do anything, so I dismantled the coop and am scrubbing it with hot bleach solution, and that doesn't seem to be killing them, just spreading them around. I also found brown/red mites in the rabbit water bowl ( a plastic feeder) - obviously the chickens have been using that to drink from and are transffering the red mites to the bowl. I also bleached that! I feel as though the things are crawling all over me at the moment! Update!! I've just found a pack of Xenex Ultra spot on for rabbits. Enough to do all my chickens and rabbits i think. But is there an egg withdrawal period for using Xenon (permethrin based)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 6, 2009 Author Share Posted July 6, 2009 It sounds like the ones you have found ('flour mites' are the usual lilttle bugs that you find scurrying about on most garden gubbins. You can safely wash your housing down with Poultry Shield, which is a disinfectant as well as anti-bugs. Treating them with an ivermectin-based product *not licenced for use on poultry in the UK* will go a long way to controlling mites on both your animals and housing as it kills anything that bites the chooks. vet recommendations are that you need to withdraw eggs from human consumption for 7 days from the last dose. A preventative dose is needed once, 3 times a year, but dose twice a week apart if you have an infestation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMWARDFARM Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Guys as ever your advice is invaluable but I am confused To treat Lice and Mites what do you use what is the fastest and best product? The reason I say this as I have read your thread but am confused as to which is best - Diatom, Johnsons Anti Mite, Xeno 200, Ivomec Eprinex, Poultry Shield Concentrate, Barrier Red Mite Powder? Can these be used together? I want to cover all bases and treat for both. Sorry to appear thick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 In my mind, the most effective to treat both lice and mites, both for an infestation and preventatively is Ivomec Eprinex as a spot-on and Johnsons' anti-mite spray topically. *neither of these products is licenced for use on poultry in the UK* If your hens have an infestation, then treat twice a week apart. You will also need to treat the housing. Be prepared to carry on with the weekly treatments until the lice/mites have all gone. This is just my personal preference, based on experience. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMWARDFARM Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Claret Thank you, I have called my local vet in regards to the eprinox you described, failing them or them failing me where can you get hold of this from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted July 14, 2009 Author Share Posted July 14, 2009 I usually get it from my vet, but I understand that you can get it online at http://www.hyperdrug.co.uk without a prescription. The bottle is 200ml and therefor would last for ages, BUT be careful to use it before it's use by date as it does become ineffective quite quickly. I split my last bottle with a friend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMWARDFARM Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 whats the egg withdrawall on this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMWARDFARM Posted July 14, 2009 Share Posted July 14, 2009 Just checked that site, it says pour on for cattle? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
