Britannia Ovens (esp Range cookers) your experience

[midori]

I am so cross with myself!

 

One of my hens, Margery, has looked a bit 'off' since shortly after we got her. Floppy but red comb, then losing feathers. She is still laying virtually every day. I checked her for lice/mites but couldn't see any, and assumed one of the others, Matilda, caught pecking the odd feather from the other girls, was pecking her feathers out. Anti-peck spray didn't stop the feather loss, and I have noticed Matilda wasn't laying so much, so I got some red mite powder just in case, and treat all the birds. As I was treating them tonight I noticed lice on Margery. I didn't look to closely at the other birds, just treated them all, obviously.

 

I noticed on the FAQ's that Barrier Red Mite Powder will treat lice too. I'm a bit confused as to when I need to re-treat though, as I searched the forum and found mixed advice. Is it in one week, or six weeks? Also, I didn't put any in the nest or bedding as I went a bit mad putting it on the hens and thought it would fall out onto the bedding. Should I put some in the shavings tomorrow? And the nest? is it ok in the nest as they lay eggs in there, will the eggs be safe to eat if it gets on their shells?

 

Also, I spoke to my vet about Ivermectin today and arranged to get some. (I am aware it is not licensed for poultry) Should I treat them with this too? I will be keeping some in just in case I need any in future any way I think, but would prefer not to use it due to the egg withdrawal.

 

Any help appreciated, I feel so dreadful for my poor girls.

[Jools]

If your vet is recommending Ivermectin, then I'd go with their professional advice - and treat all your birds according to his/her instructions.

 

Once you've rid your chickens of the beasties, you can start using the barrier powder in their dust bath, under and on the bedding in the house and nest box, and dust them every six weeks, which should stop future infestations.

 

HTH

[Pikey]

My new girl had them and I found smothering them and their home and dust bath with Diatomaceous Earth got rid of them.

[midori]

Thankyou.

 

I spoke to the vet today and he advised Frontline spray, which I'll do tonight. I have ordered some Flubenvet, which will come Monday so I can start worming them then too, just in case. I have also put the powder in the house/bedding.

[The Dogmother]

It's best to leave a week between Lice and worm treatments - doing it together can be a bit of an overload for them.

[midori]

Thankyou. The vet didn't mention that, but it is probably a good idea. The worming is really just precautionary really, I haven't noticed any evidence of worms. I just don't know for absolute certain when they were wormed last as I haven't had them that long, and then I can start them on a routine here where they are all wormed together.

[The Dogmother]

I always worm and treat all new chickens for lice before I introduce them to the existing flock. The the whole lot are wormed and treated for lice every quarter with a week between each set of treatments.

[Scarlett OHara]

I had lice on my girls which I noticed back in May. I bought some Barrier Louse Powder and used that for several weeks wondering why they still had them. Then I found out that it doesn't kill them only prevents them. Then I moved onto Diatomeous Earth powder and that worked on some but not all. Finally I bought some Johnson's mite spray for caged birds and I watched the lice fall off the girls (I noticed that this was just over £2 on Amazon although I paid £4.35 at the poultry shop) This spray has permethrin in which actually kills the lice. I am now going to buy a permethrin based powder to sprinkle in nest boxes and dust baths as a preventative. Didn't want to use chemicals but the welfare of my girls is the most important thing. Why spend loads on Frontline when you can use this spray?

[The Dogmother]

I use the same product Scarlett.

 

I also use a permethrin powder called Buz Busters** in the housing and dust bath.

 

**Note that neither are licensed for use on poultry in the UK

[midori]

Thankyou. I always have Frontline Spray in the house anyway, as I use it for puppies and also snake mites. (snake mites are a **** to get rid of, so I always keep it in just in case) so I didn't have to buy it this time.

 

What is the egg withdrawal for the Johnsons spray though? As the vet told me 7 days for Frontline, which is a shame, as I now have a load of eggs I have to throw away.

 

I was planing on worming with Flubenvet quarterly, and then using red mite/louse powder in the house and on the birds as a deterrant. Should I actually treat them for louse every 3 months, or would checking them regularly and using the powders be enough? I am reluctant to use chemicals on them unless I have to, but want what is best for the hens.

 

Thanks once again.

[The Dogmother]

Johnsons once advised that the withdrawal period would be 48 hours.

 

I use Ivomec Eprinex** quarterly as a preventative treatment and also spray if I happen to see the odd one.

 

I also worm every quarter, but not the same week as delousing, with either Flubenvet or Panacur**

 

I treat the housing with Buz Busters powder.

 

**Not licensed for use on poultry in the UK