Claireabella Posted April 23, 2014 Share Posted April 23, 2014 I've been trying to get rid of tapeworm in my three big girls for quite a while now. I think we are finally getting there, but today Poppy looked a little under the weather. She's not standing around sleeping but she just looks a bit 'spaced out' and daydreamy. I let her in the house for a closer look and to check her over. I had a rummage around her chicken knickers and I found lice near the base of her feathers and if she has them, the others probably have them too. I've read on here that I can treat with Xeno (?) and a permethrin based spray (* not licenced for poultry) but my question is, how long should I wait before I treat them; it's been less than a week since they were treated for tapeworm? I don't want to overload with too many medications. It's not surprising Poppy's under the weather really, poor girl, tapeworm and now lice. I wish I could just sort them out once and for all Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 We use Johnsons dog flea * spray Claireabella. Can get it from petshops. It's a pyrethrum based solution which kills lice on contact so one squirt in the general area will do it. You can spray immediately as it only sits on the surface of the skin. A a preventative you can get Barrier louse powder, which you put around under the feathers. It only acts as a discouragement though, once the lice have laid eggs it will be ineffective. *not licensed for use on poultry in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Beantrees advice is great as always. I used ivermectin spot on, this treats ticks but also a whole host of other crawlies...including scaly leg mite and I also understand it helps as a wormer, I only rely on flubervent as a wormer but I know that doesn't help with your tapeworm problem....I use the ivermectin on the back of the neck every six months, and touch wood, no nasties. I got a bottle from my vets which I think will last forever and it cost about £11.00 **Ivermectin isn't licences for use on poultry in the UK** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 By annoying co-incidence Clairebella we have just this morning discovered a chronic lice infestation on our Wyandottes. Problem we have with these hens is they are somewhat wild, so catching them for inspections is difficult. We are treating as described above but needed several squirts to cover the areas which are above and below the vent and all over their underbelly. I noticed them soil bathing and preening a lot, which is what tipped me off to a potential problem. I have also added potash to their dry soil bath area under the coop. We will check them all in a week and wash the areas with baby shampoo to see if we can dislodge some of the egg clusters at the base of the feathers, or at least drown the eggs. Then once they are dry we will use the Barrier powder. Problem is the lice drop off and wait for another host, so in wind they can move between flocks. Fortunately these will be moulting soon and the feathers will be replaced. We will have to be more vigilant, applying powder to all the birds as a preventative as we used to. This is the first lice problem we have had in 6 years (plenty of red mite and Northern Fowl Mite though). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted April 24, 2014 Author Share Posted April 24, 2014 Thanks both. I will get some spray this morning and order some ivermectin for a later date. Do you part the feathers to apply the spray so that it makes skin contact or just put spray in the usual places (around vent, under wings)? Sorry if this is a silly question, I haven't dealt with lice before. Sorry to hear you've got an outbreak too Beantree, very annoying! My suspicions were right, Poppy is not her usual self this morning. She hasn't touched the food or water and flew straight up to a perch in the run when I let them out. I also felt to make sure her crop had emptied. It has gone down a lot overnight but there is still a small firm lump. Is this normal? My other hens are soft and flat this morning in comparison Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Part the feathers and apply sparingly Clairebella, only where you can see the lice activity. They walk over the skin and die on contact. They should be all gone in 24 hours. I hate using chemicals on our birds but in this case have no choice. Prevention is always better than cure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Hi Beantree if they are like human lice I don't think you can ' drown 't them.The lice itself can stop taking in air and the egg doesn't need air.Best water can do is dislodge some.Oily based solutions can suffocate lice though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Think you are right Grandmashazzie, they won't drown. Oil and feathers is a bad combination so we'll see if they will wash off. I seem to remember years ago we cut all the feathers off which had clusters of eggs on them. But two problems there I think. First our hens would look rather bald and second they won't moult well with just a feather stub left in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Hey Beantree nosey question,following your posts,you are very knowledgable and saw your reply about your experience to someone else.Do you work nights?You often reply in the wee small hours.Sorry if that's intrusive but I notice the time on posts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I don't sleep well Grandmashazzie. Worrying too much about our chickens perhaps? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Hey Beantree nosey question,following your posts,you are very knowledgable and saw your reply about your experience to someone else.Do you work nights?You often reply in the wee small hours.Sorry if that's intrusive but I notice the time on posts. Haha....amazing... why are we all nosey about beantree?? I asked a question last week too , beantree are you a he, a she? It matters not either way...people must assume I'm a guy becauseof my username but that's just a mix of my kids names, all the good ones had already been taken. beantree.... What an enigma ))) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Yes gavclojak we are nosey.I wonder if it's because the answers are so factual and straight to the point?They are good and there is no other info given which leadst to curiosity.Whereas I tend to add in other faffy bits.I am therefore guessing male.PS Sorry you don't sleep well I know that can be annoying in the extreme. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted April 24, 2014 Author Share Posted April 24, 2014 Hi all, I couldn't get any dog flea spray from my local pet shop ( out of stock) but they had some Johnsons Insecticidal Spray for small animals. It says it kills fleas, lice and all common external parasites and contains permethrin. Do you think this might do the job? Think I'll have to wait until later though, two person job and probably better when they're a bit quieter in the evening. I called into the vets and they cannot prescribe ivermectin without seeing one of the girls and the vet isn't there today so I might order some online for future use. Sorry for all the questions but what are your thoughts about her crop? I might gets some maggots, just in case On another note, you know what curiosity did... I add faffy bits too Thanks, as always, for your advice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grandmashazzie Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I would guess insecticide spray would do job.I must check my girlies over at weekend yuck I don't fancy the idea of lice at all,so I may order online and do the drop on neck as a preventative measure.Sorry for hijacking your post Clairabella Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Strange, I was just thinking about lice this morning. I have never used a preventative, think I will start. My girls are hard to catch too. Can I put something in their dust bathing area ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I use the ivermectin but also a massive amount of DE in the dust bath and also sprinkle it in the nest box so they get a nice coating there too..it apparently kills live by attacking there exoskeleton...woo I get me!!! I was also thinking beantree was a guy, but how many guys don't sleep well? LOL Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 I just went out to check the girls. 1st one I caught was fine, 2nd one had red mite argh! I have taken the cube apart, jet washed it, covered everything in DE sprayed everything with mite spray filled the eglu and nest box with shredded paper. Topped that with mite powder. Smothered the inside run with biodry and new Easi chick. Treated all girls with invertimicin. Phew. I'm going out at 3 ! I'm covered in powder a poo . Do I have to re treat them with invertimicin after a certain period. At least I don't have to give them mite prevention too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted April 24, 2014 Author Share Posted April 24, 2014 I think you've got it covered Chickabee! I use quite a lot of DE in dust bath and nest box but obviously hasn't worked I meant to ask how your arm is now? Are you out of plaster? If I'm honest, I think about lice quite a lot my daughter has had headlice twice from school, lice on chickens seem to look surprisingly similar. I could have easily treated the girls with hedrin I've been watching Poppy and she does look lethargic to me, not her usual self, so I've rang the vets I went to earlier and booked her an appointment for in the morning. I haven't used them before but they seemed to know what I was taking about so I'll give them a try. I can always get some ivermectin while I'm there too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted April 24, 2014 Share Posted April 24, 2014 Hi, yes I'm out of plaster but in a brace. Plaster was 8 weeks, brace will be at least 4. No showering or driving ! Still managed to catch and chase 9 chickens. Funny thing is I checked the exbats yesterday and they're all fine Your girl does sound poorly. Do you think she might have sour crop Good luck at the vets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted April 24, 2014 Author Share Posted April 24, 2014 Catching 9 chickens with one hand makes you wonder women in my book Glad to hear your arm is on the mend She's showing signs that something's not quite right. She still flew over the fence and came in the house today and she nearly snatched my hand off for mealworms so she's not too bad at the moment. I was thinking possible impacted crop since her crop is hard rather than squishy. I'll have to have a feel again in the morning but it still feels quite hard even now. I've never had lice or crop problems in my little flock before, so this is all rather new to me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 25, 2014 Share Posted April 25, 2014 I would suggest a systemic spot-on treatment* as well as a topical spray* if you want complete cover. Leave at least a week from worming before you do it. *not licensed for use on poultry in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted April 25, 2014 Author Share Posted April 25, 2014 Thank you Dogmother, I was thinking at least a week and your reply has confirmed this for me . I'm relieved to say that Poppy was looking much better this morning, crop emptied completely and she went straight for the food! I've been to the vets and she was very good and gave Poppy a thorough check and weighed her etc. She said that Poppy is healthy and in very good condition. She couldn't see many lice, just one or two near her vent area, so prescribed Xeno 450* for all my girls (the bill was shocking ). I explained everything about her recently having tapeworms and she has told me to repeat the tapeworm treatment in one month (Droncit*) and the lice treatment in two weeks time. It is nice to find a vet who knows what they're talking about and I can't tell you how relieved I am to finally be getting on top of these parasites * Not licenced for poultry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 26, 2014 Share Posted April 26, 2014 Ask your vet if they will prescribe Ivomec Eprinex*... it's a cattle pour-on, so they will have to order it in, but it's a large bottle and much more cost effective. You can link them to this article *not licensed for use on poultry in the UK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claireabella Posted April 27, 2014 Author Share Posted April 27, 2014 Thank you Dogmother, I will ask for that if I have any further problems. Do you use that as a preventative too? I could do with establishing a good preventative routine. I have only been adding DE to dust bath and nest box thinking this would keep the lice away Many thanks everyone for the help, Claire Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted April 27, 2014 Share Posted April 27, 2014 I use the spot on every Four months as a preventative. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
