Poorly chicken

[The Dogmother]

The scales on her legs will remian raised after the mites have been nuked, but will gradually improve over time as they moult off. Sadly, they never seem to regain their former glory, but at least she will be free of mites and more comfortable.

[LJ's Chooks]

Hi Clare,

as she hasn't got scales on her ankles and toe joints will I need to protect them in some way or will new ones grow to replace them fairly soon?

[The Dogmother]

Sorry LJ, I didn't look very closely at the photos.

 

You could add a layer of Vaseline or Sudocrem to protect them, but they will probably grow back eventually, unless she's damaged the follicles when she pulled them out. I would be inclined to pop some Sudocreme on, or even the Johnson's tea tree cream every now and then and keep an eye out that she doesn't pick up any infections without any scales to protect her legs/feet.

[LJ's Chooks]

Thanks Clare, i'll keep her well coated in Vaseline or sudocrem... We always seem to have lots of pots with bits in from the kids!!!!

 

I know they'll never be perfect, I just am trying to do everything to keep her going and her legs soothed. It still amazes me how someone could let her get so bad and then dump her.... I'm not sure if that means they have a conscience or not. I just fear that she was not their only chook!!!!

[The Dogmother]

Looking at those photos again, it's lucky that she didn't lose a toe, or go lame.

 

I always spray my girls legs (whether they have mites or not) when I do the other worm and louse stuff.

[LJ's Chooks]

She is definitely lame, but I really hope that improves as I do hope to eventually put her in with the rest of our chooks ... If she gets better!? She is just not very steady on her legs and has obviously been sat down in mud as she seemed quite matted underneath. If it were warmer she'd be having a bath!!!

She seems to spend a lot of time in the eglu, but cannot handle the roosting bars and seems to just flop on them.

[The Dogmother]

Bless her.

 

If it gets a bit warmer, it might be worth soaking the muck off her undercarriage. Either that or do it indoors and dry her off before she goes out again.

[LJ's Chooks]

Yep, warm water and a bit of ecover??

 

At the moment she gets so stressed with people around her.... I don't think doing it inside will work cos of her "infestations" I think my husband would have kittens!!!!

 

I'd love to get some eprinex on her, do you have any of the articles on it anymore... A lot of the links are no longer working and I've tried emaling the guy who wrote some if them in the US but the haven't replied????? I don't think my vet will be convinced without evidence that it works... S last time I saw her she we only interested in prescribing xeno.

[The Dogmother]

If she has lots of nasties, I'd bathe her in a 10% solution of Poultry Shield, it's pretty gentle and will kill off her bugs, but it sounds as if she needs building up first before you do that. Pick a day with little wind and dry her off thoroughly before she goes back outside.

 

Scot Shilala (the author you mention) isn't posting any more so far as i can see, but here's a copy of his paper:

 

Ivomec and Your Birds

The Easy Chicken

 

for beginners

The Standard Disclaimer

 

First of all I need to say that I do not endorse or suggest the use of any Ivermectin/Eprinomectin based product for use with your birds. They are not FDA approved for use with birds, and it could be unsafe for not only your birds, but for you. The information I'll put forth will tell how I use Ivomec Eprinex, and what it's done for me. It's up to you to decide what's best for you and your birds.

 

This page was last updated on: December 20, 2006This site was constructed by me, Scott Shilala, with help from the poultry hobbyist community, and support from my wonderful wife, Kelly Jo.

 

What kind of Ivomec do I choose?

 

As far as I am concerned, there is only ONE type of Ivomec for birds.

 

That is Ivomec Eprinex. All other types of Ivomec wormers have withdrawal periods, some as great as 146 days. STAY AWAY FROM THEM!!! They have been proven less effective and the negatives outweigh the positives.

 

 

Ivomec Eprinex has been shown to be is the strongest, most potent parasite control product available.

 

It kills 39 stages of internal and external parasites.

 

When can I eat my eggs after I use Eprinex?

 

Here's a quote from the Ivomec website...

 

"Its broad-spectrum efficacy in a weatherproof formulation, margin of safety, zero slaughter withdrawal and zero milk discard, make it a convenient product for parasite control in beef and dairy cattle, including lactating dairy cattle".

 

Make sure you realize that we are talking CATTLE here and not chickens.

 

I should also point out that birds and cattle are not the same thing, and that birds differ greatly in external and internal construction. What's good for a cow may not be good for a bird, and vice versa.

 

Take the zero milk discard and zero slaughter withdrawal with a grain of salt!!!

 

When we worm our birds, we try to coincide the worming with periods of low egg production. We wait 6 to 8 weeks before using the birds or eggs for the table.

 

Regardless of whether the "zero stuff" indicates to me that it's safe to eat eggs immediately (and it does), I'd much rather be safe than sorry. I get enough Eprinex on me when I'm worming my birds that I should be parasite free for the rest of my life. That's despite using precautions.

 

If you want to be completely safe from any effects Ivomec may have on you, the common sense approach would be to stay away from it, period!

 

What dosage rate do you use???

 

One cc is equal to one ml.

 

Eprinex's suggested dose rate for cattle is 1 ml per 22 pounds of body weight.

 

I have seen dosage rates recommended for birds that go from 2cc per bantam to 5cc per bantam, and everything in between. That is completely wrong.

 

If you use a ratio, pound for pound, The proper dosage is

 

.5 cc (ml) per 11 pound bird - Large Fowl

 

.25 cc (ml) per 5.5 lb bird - Bantam

 

How safe is Ivermectin???

 

That's a tough one. I trust Eprinex about as much as I trust any drug. I use Eprinex on my birds with extreme caution. I've been using it for a number of years now and have found it safe and effective.

 

I've read stories that it can be bad when used on certain breeds of dogs. I've read stories that it's been used on people in third world countries to control internal parasites. I've also heard that it is or will be used in Great Britain as a control for scabies, in one form or another.

 

You have to read and be educated on this chemical if you are to use it as safely as you can. Read the ads, read the label, ask questions.

 

You can read about Eprinex at Ivomec's Website.

 

There are studies, writings, stats, anything you need to know to form your own decision on whether to use it or not.

How do I apply Ivomec to my birds???

 

On Skin - It's as simple as measuring the proper dosage and squirting it behind the bird's neck, between the shoulder blades. You want to make sure it reaches the skin because Eprinex is absorbed through the skin into a bird's system.

 

The other reason for this placement is that the bird can't reach this spot with his head. If the dose is placed under the wing or on the breast (as I've heard it suggested) the bird can easily rub away the Eprinex with it's head feathers making it less than effective. Put the dose where it will give you the best results.

 

The dose recommended by my vet is .25ml/5.5lb of chicken, administered as drops on the skin at the back of the neck.

 

Remember that Ivermectin is also a wormer, not as broad spectrum (so I am told) as Flubenvet or Panacur, so I'd avoid overloading her poor system with anything else when you dose with this.

 

*not licensed for use on poultry in the UK.

[LJ's Chooks]

Thanks Clare!

[Tutti Frutti]

Oh bless her, such a beautiful girl, how could someone have been so callous?

 

Well done you for giving her much needed TLC. Sounds like she's in the wars but improving every day. Fingers firmly crossed for you both

[jimnpaula]

what's today's update then?

 

P

[LJ's Chooks]

Nothing very exciting I'm afraid, she's just the same, though she does seem to now be eating and drinking much better. She is still very uncertain on her legs and it's been quite breezy here today and I have seen her lose her balance a couple of times, poor thing.

 

She's still quite beautiful though

[mostin]

laurmurf and I are sharing a bottle of eprinex that our vet got for us for the chooks. He had no problems with getting it for us .

[dancing cloud]

Poor little chicken! When you see the photos, you can see just how bad she was .

 

Lucky Mallion though to have found someone like you to care for her . Lots of ((hugs)) to her from me and mine.

[cathybc]

bless her, what a love. She is so lucky to have you looking afer her.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

What a lovely girl...as I was driving back down the A27 yesterday I thought I should have got in touch & come & seen her (and you of course ) in the flesh

 

Sha x

[Poached Egg]

Not been on here for a few days so lovely to see the pics and hear there has been some, albeit small, improvement. I guess it will be a long slow process and she is very lucky to have you. Fingers crossed.

[franklyrabbit]

Don't laugh but I don't have any chickens - rabbits and cats, but no chickens. I have however, been absolutely hooked on Mallion's progress since the very first posting and I'm hoping that all is progressing well and that the ailments are easing. Poor little girl.

[LJ's Chooks]

Don't laugh but I don't have any chickens - rabbits and cats, but no chickens. I have however, been absolutely hooked on Mallion's progress since the very first posting and I'm hoping that all is progressing well and that the ailments are easing. Poor little girl.

 

you may not have chickens yet, but I'm sure it's just a matter of time, they get under your skin and before you know it your garden will be trashed and you'll have 9 ot 10 like the rest of us!!!

[sandyhas3chucks]

I am SOOOOO glad she found you....

Just an added thought, that maybe the lameness is lack of calcium?

My guess is she wasn't given best feed either if any?

Might be worth a try incase it is NOT just the sore feet

keep up the good work.

[LJ's Chooks]

That's why I love this forum, thanks sandy, I hadn't thought about that. I have given her extra mixed grit with oyster shell on a few days, but I think I'll start adding some limestone flour to her pellets.

 

She definitely seems to be improving, and certainly does not seem so frail as she was. She still spends quite a lot of time inside the eglu, which does seem strange. Having said that though, she does seem to enjoy the sunshine and now chats away to the other girls... And our Mocha definitely knows there is another girl nearby. Mally is still about 15 metres away from the main chook area and cube, but they know she's here for sure!

 

Sorry everyone that I've not posted updates for the last few days, I hadn't been getting the new post notices, so I thought everone had forgotten about little mally, how wrong I was when I checked in tonight thankyou for all your lovely messages, she's a very lucky chook having so many people thinking of her!!!! Thanks everyone!

[Tutti Frutti]

It's so lovely to read about her progress, I'm really glad she's doing well! Keep it up Mally - and you too LJ Loving the posts!

[LJ's Chooks]

Oh I was so worried I was boring everyone... Thanks again everyone!

[Tutti Frutti]

Oh I was so worried I was boring everyone...

 

Nope! My only complaint is the wait for more photos (hint hint)