chickencam Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 I have just had to dispatch Ghost I found her lying in the house being pecked by Maddie, she has been very quiet for a few days and not 100% for quite some time, odd breathing that puffed her neck out. Today her comb had gone very dark and she was asleep on the perch for most of the day. She had obviously taken herself to bed. I thought it was kinder to see her on her way rather than leave her to fade. I haven't had to do this before and it was very nerve racking and sad, although felt better for doing it for good reasons. I decided to give her body the once over for obvious problems and discovered that she was crawling with lice. She has had them before and we treated her with a permethrin powder for pigeons and that seemed to work. I thought that I would do the other 6 that have been living with her, they are off lay bar one so I wouldn't need to worry about egg withdrawal. I just wanted to know it this will be effective or if I am better making a trip to the vets for something more targeted. The other hens had a dusting last time too but I couldn't actually see lice on them at the time, she has always been a bit sickly compared to the others so maybe she was just more vunerable. R.I.P. Ghost Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 18, 2011 Author Share Posted October 18, 2011 Also any recommendations of a website for buying invermectin based products? I never know which ones to trust and my vets want to see a hen for a diagnosis. I don't want to spend £15-25 and then end up buying the product from them as well when I know what I need. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 Yes it should do mites and lice as will any ivermectin based product (not licensed for poultry). Any reputable website will be registered with the VMD (Veterinary Medicines Directorate) and as with any website, choose one that provides a phone number rather than an email address only. Never buy medicines from non UK sites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickencam Posted October 18, 2011 Author Share Posted October 18, 2011 I have dusted the rest of the girls with a permethrin powder because it was all that I had, we had a good check over them all and apart from a couple on one chicken, they were nice and clean so they must have spotted a vunerable host and as I said she was always warmer than the rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chucky Mama Posted October 18, 2011 Share Posted October 18, 2011 they must have spotted a vunerable host and as I said she was always warmer than the rest. Yes they will do that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted October 19, 2011 Share Posted October 19, 2011 Sorry to hear that Liz. As CM has said, they will always home in on an ailing bird I'd keep up your usual good practice on your other birds but not worry too much. Buz Busters powder contains permethrin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
