Roobaloo Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 My Magpie, Toph has a bald belly. She lightly plucked down the middle when she went broody last summer...and all was returning to normal until about a month ago she started plucking again. It's a much larger area and the skin has become red, so I'm guessing it's caused by a parasite? The other three have no signs of any parasites...and other than the irritating skin, I can't see anything on Toph (but she's not the easiest bird to examine and I don't have another pair of hands as my OH is bird phobic! ) They have a sand dustbath with diatom...I regularly powder the rest of the run...but obviously this isn't enough. I'm planning on empying the run and spraying everything next weekend....does anyone have any recommendations for what to use on the hens. Powders clearly aren't doing a great deal...is they anything that can be used as a bath/dip or spray? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I'd be tempted to try a spot-on treatment like Ivermectin - not licensed for poultry but readily available from online poultry suppliers or ebay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roobaloo Posted March 15, 2011 Author Share Posted March 15, 2011 Perfect!! Thanks Jools! I'm guessing there's an egg-withdrawal period...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 (edited) Johnson's Anti-Mite spray (for lice too). Use twice (e.g, each on a sunday, then again next sunday) around the vent and under the wings. Soon cleared up our lice problem I think theres an egg withdrawal period of 2 days Edited March 15, 2011 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jools Posted March 15, 2011 Share Posted March 15, 2011 I'm guessing there's an egg-withdrawal period...? See here for info on egg withdrawl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 It's not unusual for hens to pluck their tums and breasts at this time of year as the weather gets warmer and they start to feel broody, the skin will be red when it's exposed to the elements and isn't necessarily a sign of any problem. You can soothe the skin with some Johnson's tea tree cram which also contains lavender, so is soothing. Provided that you do a regular lice check and use a preventative quarterly, spraying if you see any critters then you ought to be OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
percy049 Posted March 16, 2011 Share Posted March 16, 2011 we put Barrier anti-lice powder in their house weekly, and spray them every 3 months or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
