Valkyrie Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Just a reminder that they do not go away even in cold weather. I have had to treat all the girls yet again. I declare I'm mite free as a result. What I really, reeeeeeeealllllly want to say is sassin' rassin' faffle and raspberries. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Don't know if you have noticed the same as us, that they seem to go for the cockerels in preference to the hens Valkyrie? Having said that the little sick hen we gave antibiotics to (and is now putting on weight and is back in with her sister) picked them up just wandering around in the garden on her own! That was in December and was only spotted incredibly early when we washed her bottom. At that stage there were just tiny 'moving' scabs on a small area of skin below and to the side of her vent. We treat ours with Frontline spray, only available from a vet. Not licensed for poultry and has to be used with extreme caution in very small doses (0.5mL per Kg bodyweight to an absolute maximum of 1.5mL per Kg), but that's what our vet suggested and we have found it very effective. It stays in the skin layer where sprayed for about three months. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire Hen Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 Three years of chicken keeping and I'm battling my first outbreak! Ironically one month after I've moved the hens from a wood coop to plastic. Obviously I do not fault the Cube. The hens haven't had a proper dustbath area with the winter move and snowy weather, and I've been ignorant in not checking regularly for mites in the past. Lesson learned! I've treated the coop and hens with carbaryl powder and will do so again in ten days to catch the nits. Frontline is sounding pretty good to me too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted March 4, 2015 Share Posted March 4, 2015 You can buy frontline spray from Amazon. It comes from Spain, where no prescription is required Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 4, 2015 Author Share Posted March 4, 2015 Well I don't have a cockerel, but Squirt does her darnedest to be one! She's the ratbag that goes for our legs. Unless I have a long skirt and then she's confused. But she is the one that seems to suffer most with the mites. She hasn't been laying properly for a long time now (innards rather than pests). At least the orpie is feeling better - she laid an egg today after a couple of weeks break. All girls seem to be good with regard to weight and their combs are still OK, although Squirt looks a little more pale than yesterday and she was nicely pinky red then. And sometimes you can't help it. I had been ill since the new year first with flu and then that triggered off a debilitating asthma attack. Finally (after seeing one useless doc and then later a nice new fresh out of med school doc) I'm getting back on par with things. Which meant having a good look at my birds when I didn't even have the energy to do so before - as much as I could do to let them out and feed them. And these little nasties are blooming sneaky - they like Squirt's tummy so her bottom looks quite boofable. It's between her legs where they lurk - and quite out of sight. But I will look into the Frontline thing so I can keep on top of these pests. Cor, and getting Flubenvet has been difficult too, although I managed to get some pellets in February. Had enough left for the week's dose of corn in the powder. Still none to be had around here it seems. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 If you do buy Frontline from Spain make sure you only get the little bottle which dispenses 0.5mL with each pump. The large bottles with the big blue nozzle dispense 1.5mL with each pump and that's far too much for a chicken. We have a large bottle, the contents of which are transferred to a small bottle for application. As I said before it needs to be used with extreme caution. We have sprayed a cotton bud in the past and used that to apply tiny amounts to bantams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chickabee Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Thanks for that advice Beantree. I haven't used mine yet. I got the small bottle, but I think I will still use cotton bud. It was recommended for lice in crested polands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Do you dab it on the skin or just around the feathers when you spray or use the cotton bud? I have a faint recollection of our rabbit being sprayed as a precaution yonks ago though with something similar at the vets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beantree Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 Part the feathers and spray or dab. It needs to get to the skin, accepting that some will end up on the feathers and achieve nothing. We've never noticed a bad reaction due to them preening it off and have used it a lot. Some people use Ivermectin, but that doesn't seem to be anywhere near as effective judging by reports from people and also carries an egg withdrawal period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 5, 2015 Author Share Posted March 5, 2015 Many thanks Beany. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 6, 2015 Author Share Posted March 6, 2015 Small bottle of Frontline in the process of being shipped. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Mine were all treated with Ivomec Eprinex* a couple of weeks ago, in anticipation of the warmer weather; it pays to keep up the preventative treatments. *Not licensed for use on poultry in the UK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Mine were all treated with Ivomec Eprinex* a couple of weeks ago, in anticipation of the warmer weather; it pays to keep up the preventative treatments. *Not licensed for use on poultry in the UK. Mine too, I do mine every few months and touch wood.....no problem so far and far easier than dusting with powder Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Dusting is a vile job, and to be avoided at all costs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cat tails Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Mine are going to the childrens petting zoo again soon for a week. So I'll be treating them, when they come back. They sell the eggs of their chooks, so I can't really give them chickens that are on a withdrawal period. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvachicken Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Dusting is a vile job, and to be avoided at all costs. Why is that Dogmother ? Do you mean on the chickens or if you have to dust a big barn ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 7, 2015 Author Share Posted March 7, 2015 Probably because DM gets covered too. It doesn't half get up your nose! And then it goes through yer trews too!!! Ewww! Gritty knickers where they've been dusted on my lap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gavclojak Posted March 7, 2015 Share Posted March 7, 2015 Dusting is a vile job, and to be avoided at all costs. I agree, hate it!! Much rather PoP a few drops on the back of the neck..,I'm all for an easy life Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 8, 2015 Share Posted March 8, 2015 Exactly, Val! And you really should wear a proper respirator mask as most of the louse powders are Diatom based, so do pretty nasty things to our lungs if inhaled. Generally, I am one for upholding traditional methods if they are effective, but this is one of those occasions where that would be daft in my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 8, 2015 Author Share Posted March 8, 2015 I like the squirty bottle - it goes right to the skin without puffing much - unlike the flour shaker which does fly all over. I then rub my hand over the feathers gently - without disturbing the powder. I've learnt over the years not to be hurricane Koojie because of the nose thing. Then when I let the birds go they wander away and then shake themselves and it's funny to see them in a cloud of dust -so combined effort there! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 Frontline has arrived this morning. I will give it another few days to be on the safe side. Squirt is looking happier after another dousing. All girls seem to pulsate with red. Sometimes pink and sometimes darker. But on the whole darker, so I am winning the battle. They are all eating well enough. Phew! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 13, 2015 Share Posted March 13, 2015 That's good news K. Do you have them on poultry tonic? It will help them to recover as this will have been quite a strain on the system. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted March 13, 2015 Author Share Posted March 13, 2015 Yep, I have your one I also give them the oregano stuff from time to time. Brilliant because they go for the muddy puddle as I look on with disgust. There are 2 lots of drinking stations and they'll avoid both in favour of gritty muck! I even blocked one area off and Tipsy managed to get in and slurp away, then the orpie shoved a bigger gap and before long all of them were milling around. But they couldn't seem to find their way out and whinged. Caught red handed. Or red beaked? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cheshire Hen Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 I just did the second treatment of powder yesterday. You're right it's a horrible job and I'd like to never do it again. I think my disposable mask wasn't up to the task! It's hard to get good info on Frontline in the States because it's not approved for poultry, so I'm not sure which one to buy. It is available at pet shops for dogs and cats. No withdrawal period? It sounds like an obvious choice! What is the tonic you refer to? A couple of my girls have bounced right back to laying and perking up, but a couple still aren't laying and are a little scruffy in the feathers. Thank you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 14, 2015 Share Posted March 14, 2015 (edited) Frontline (which isn't licensed for use on poultry in the UK) would require egg withdrawal. I use either Life-Guard poultry tonic, or Nettex Vit Boost; both are good products with pro- and pre-biotics. Mite infestations will leave the birds irritable, and if the parasite load was bad, then they could also be anaemic. Edited March 14, 2015 by Guest Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
