Bertha Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 I'm not new to chicken keeping but I have never experienced mites and lice like I am at the moment and I really need help please. My hens have now stopped eating and I took them to the vets twice as I was very concerned but now I am convinced its the mites. The vet said they have both mites and lice. They are on antibiotics just in case there is an underlying problem. This has been going on few a few weeks and my largest hen is now very thin. I have taken the coop apart, powdered with D.E and red mite powder and sprayed coop etc with total mite kill. We recently moved house and I am now sure the garden is infested. Even the bins the other side of the garden have both mites and lice on them. What can I do? I am not sure my largest hen will last much longer as she is fading in front of my eyes. The other one is sneezing constantly because of all the powder! I am really at my wits end and very sad for them. Will the mites die off once the cold weather comes? Apologies for the download but I needed to set the scene. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Hi there, would you vet be able to prescribe ivermectin drops, I understand it isn't licenced for poultry but I have treated my girls with it and touch wood, have not had a problem with internal or external parasites. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertha Posted October 3, 2013 Author Share Posted October 3, 2013 Hi thanks so much for quick reply. Is this something that goes on the outside like 'spot on' or something they take orally? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ain't Nobody Here Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 You put a few drops on the back of their necks so it's quite easy to administer. Hope you manage to eradicate the little blighters . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 I put a few drops on the back between the wings near the neck and as far as I am aware works very quickly so maybe see if your vet will prescribe, if not maybe find a chickens savvy vet who will, you may have to sign a disclaimer but with a poorly girl my guess is that won't be a problem. Good luck and if you are desperate I have heard people who have used the puppy spot-on and that's available from pets at home but I would seek advice first from someone far more experienced that me!! X Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coco Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Have you treated the outside of the coop as well. I had a chick that was very listless and going floppy in my hands, she was covered in mites. When I checked the house the outside was covered in what I think were bird mites. A good spray outside and diatom got rid of them and the chick was fine. The mites were even on the frame of the run. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollyripkim Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 You can buy the invermectin on ebay in different strengths, I bought the pigeon one and used three drops per bantam as a preventative, so far so good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 You could try jeyes fluid. For your coup and run, also for your bins. Sounds like its wild birds spreading it. Don't feed them. You'll get fed up withe smell of jeyes, but it's pretty potent stuff. You could have a solution for dipping your wellies in when you're in the garden. Poor hens, hope they get better soon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted October 3, 2013 Share Posted October 3, 2013 Just a though, have you checked for rodents? Might be worth leaving a couple of traps. I had mice and rats last year. It was horrible. The rats bred so quickly. Got rid of them luckily, but bet they'll be back again this year! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daxigirl Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 The SPR Centre nr Chichester does stuff called "red mite stop" it goes in their water (no other medication/preparations at the same time) for 10 days, their only available water, then once a week after that. It makes their blood unpaletable to the mites causing the mites to starve. It should clear the problem of mites up. Miller30 has been using it and can recommend it. The SPR centre does post and it comes in various sizes. It's herbal so no egg withdrawal period if your still getting eggs. Ivermectin will do lice and worms. I can recommend it as used it on a louse riddled little girl I purchased. Another version is Harkamectin (pigeon on front) and slightly cheaper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
superkitty Posted October 4, 2013 Share Posted October 4, 2013 When my girls were overrun with mites, what stopped it properly in its tracks. (After some cracking advice on here) was bathing them with dog flea shampoo (big deep trug, warm water, massaged a handful of the shampoo in and let it sit for a bit, then rinsed them thoroughly, blotted them with towels and left them all in a box next to the radiator overnight to dry off) and then did a spot on the next day (I used Ivomec eprinex which is quite hard to get hold of and not licensed for poultry, but works on northern fowl mite which is what they had). Then powdered them with diatom every couple of days. I Nuked the Eglu with the power washer and used total mite kill spray and Buz busters powder, did that every 3 or 4 days to break the hatching cycle. Hard work, but it worked in the end! Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bertha Posted October 4, 2013 Author Share Posted October 4, 2013 Thank you for all the great advice. I'll get buying this evening and see if I can crack it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
