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[goodinparts]

Advice needed...

For about the last 10 days all 3 girls have had slightly grubby knickers - nothing awful but just not their usual beautiful feathery selves. First thought - time for worming so they've had their week of flubenvet, resulting in some truly MASSIVE poohs but all looking quite normal but still the grubby vents continue. They all seem to be fine in themselves, eating well, laying (well, they were till Broody Brigid went broody AGAIN on Wednesday ) and scratching around the remnants of the lawn with their usual joie de vivre...so can I/should I just ignore? Or try something else from the chicken health-store that I invested in during the post Christmas offers. I have garlic, poultry spice, citricidal, cider vinegar and chicken tonic - which I'm happy to use in any combination you suggest..........

Just don't want them to be slightly poorly and not do anything to help

Thanks, lovely omleteers....I know you'll have some suggestions.

[Redwing]

Have you checked for mites and/or lice? nearly all of mine have suffered at some point this winter for some reason (now using a systemic preventative and touch wood no problems for a while)

 

Part the feathers around the vent and quickly look at the skin, if there are mites or lice they will dash back in to the feathers so you have to look quick

 

Prime spots are the vent and the preen gland, mucky or 'greasy' looking feathers

 

If its not that then try the tonic (and no other supplements) for a while

 

If no luck then try Avipro (just about the only thing you didnt buy by the looks of it ) which is a probiotic powder and will settle any funny tummies

[goodinparts]

Thanks Tash. Will do. Then it's "total mite kill" if needs be? Am I right? (haven't had mites/lice yet)

[Christian]

Any lice/mite powder should do the trick. I use Barrier red mite powder.

 

Try cutting back on treats too. Too many green can result in runny droppings. Bokashi bran helps firm things up too.

[goodinparts]

They've been treatless for a week thanks to worming...No bokashi in the medicine chest but I could try some yoghurt I guess. They love that.......

[goodinparts]

Just wondered, Tasha, which systemic preventative you use...I'd been relying on diatom, so have nothing serious to zap them - so am about to go shopping. There seem to be many options - so ease of application is quite important as during the week there's only me at home & I'm hoping for minimal trauma all round!

Thanks

[Henslaved]

Johnsons Anti-mite spray works for me . Most pet stores will stock it.

[The Dogmother]

I use a systemic preventative too, plus a spray on any affected hens (see this thread); I spray twice a week apart to break the life cycle of the louse. The preventative I use isn't licensed for use on poultry in the UK, but was recommended by my vet as one which will tackle both poultry lice and northern fowl mites, it's called Ivomec Eprinex and I spot it on the skin at the back of their necks quarterly at the dose stated in the article below:

 

Ivomec and Your Birds, Scott Shilala

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.