Bob Blosl's Heritage Large Fowl Thread

[thedragonlady]

Been PM'ing Bob a couple of times. And something came to mind. Feather mites, does anyone have experience with them? It seems to me that most people I know in Northern Kentucky with poultry has, to some extent, feather mites.


Is this a problem that is bad in other areas, and how do you deal with the issue?

My father always suggested dipping birds in Permethrin until the primaries had moisture on the inside of the shaft.

Not necessary to dunk birds . The bugs travel on the bird. If you spray the vent, and under the wings; they're gone.

 

[maryhysong]

Yellow House,
Something crazy is ALWAYS going on over here!

We have fire ants, scorpions, tarantulas and all kinds of venomous spiders. I have a large dairy goat herd and the does get stung on their udders which causes problems at milking time. After using DE in 3 pastures focusing where they lay including housing, I finally figured out that DE cracked their teats and made them bleed from lying in it. (even small amounts)

The problem went away with sulfur...including my dry bleeding hands which would crack and bleed just from closing them. My herd enjoys eating it in their mineral feeders free choice.

Gas stations using it for drying up spills and sweeping it away.

your place sounds like mine; I have all the same plus javalina, coyotes, an occasional mountain lion and other such stuff. I noticed the DE really did a number on my hands and didn't seem to kill anything around here. I am now using 90% pure sulfur dust sold for dusting plants for mites and fungus. Are you dusting or just feeding it? Are you feeding the 99% pure food grade? The sulfur really does seem to be doing the trick on the mites my birds have.

 

[Canieldonrad]

Not necessary to dunk birds . The bugs travel on the bird. If you spray the vent, and under the wings; they're gone.

I'm speaking of the ones that reside inside of the shafts, I guess some call them Calamus or Quil mites. The ones that are inside of the feathers. Do they still go away with just a spray?


I love Javalinas. If they weren't as destructive as a goat I'd keep one in my backyard.

 

[maryhysong]

I'm speaking of the ones that reside inside of the shafts, I guess some call them Calamus or Quil mites. The ones that are inside of the feathers. Do they still go away with just a spray?


I love Javalinas. If they weren't as destructive as a goat I'd keep one in my backyard.

javalinas are worse than goats. They are also dangerous, they will attack people (a lady in Tucson was attacked by some this week), cost me $280 in vet bills when they got my dogs AND they carry rabies.

 

[Extra Java]

your place sounds like mine; I have all the same plus javalina, coyotes, an occasional mountain lion and other such stuff. I noticed the DE really did a number on my hands and didn't seem to kill anything around here. I am now using 90% pure sulfur dust sold for dusting plants for mites and fungus. Are you dusting or just feeding it? Are you feeding the 99% pure food grade? The sulfur really does seem to be doing the trick on the mites my birds have.

Yes! Very similar creatures in this type of climate. DH says, "if it's bad, we probably have it." We don't have Javalina but we have humongous wild hogs. We're backed up to an indian reservation so we get bobcats and mountain lions on our porch and elsewhere.

Depending on which size you order the purity will vary. I just make sure it's feed grade.
(EPA approved for feedstock between 99.5+% - 99.8+% pure)
http://www.dudadiesel.com/search.php?query=sulfur

Goats are all about balancing minerals so when they are deficient, I add it to their feed. I have not added it to my chicken's feed however, in the previous study I posted, they were feeding it. You can certainly feed it to chickens without ill effects. Gosh, my grandparents said everyone used to take a spoonful every Sunday way back when. Sulfur is the 8th most common element in the human body.

I use it in my coops, dust down my birds & goats by hand if needed, kill anthills, sprinkle near broodies so the snakes don't eat her chicks. It really makes fur, hair, feathers soft and shiny and improves the hoofs on livestock. etc. Many hand lotions/skin creams, bath additives use it for it's softening effects.

yada, yada, it's my favorite!


PS To the question above...there are both shaft lice and shaft mites.

 

[Canieldonrad]

wow, the javalinas i had encountered were up in the north. seemed pretty docile.

 

[Robert Blosl]

You are welcome glad I could help you. You got to have a good incubator for that old trio of Buff Brahmas. Cant afford to not hatch a chick from these if they are fertile.

Octagon 20 ECO Manual Incubator
This simple and economic incubator controls temperature with high accuracy using a well proven electronic temperature control factory preset at 99.5F with easy tamper-proof adjustment, flashing temperature indicator and liquid in glass in thermometer. Fan assisted air circulation, fresh air controlled with a vent slide and humidity provided by two water reservoirs in the base. Good visibility of the eggs. Tough, easy to clean, insulated base for low energy use and optimal temperature distribution. Adjustable egg dividers to accommodate different size eggs staneously. $174.

Here is popular incubator which cost about the same but only holds 20 eggs. Think the other model is a better buy.

I got a Little Midget used syafoam incubator at a garage sale a while back for $15. Took the parts out and mounted it in my new 19x19 inch and 20 inch tall wooden Red Wood incubator that I made out of scrap red wood. Put a old computer fan on the ceiling with the heating element and put a little pan on the floor works great. About four inches off the floor I made a small tray out of ¼ inch hardware wire and put to wooden slats on the side to hold it up.. It slides out so I can turn the eggs and ad water when needed. Works great. Cost about $20.

Quote:

 

[wekiva bird]

You better not ! You dust !

Yes i do!!!!!!!

 

[cbnovick]

5 LF Buff Rocks at 9 1/2 weeks....thus far (in my amateur SOP opinion) pleased with color, type and size...nice temperaments too!
Lots of feathers in the coop/run....juvenile molt in process

 

[fowlman01]

Good looking buffs.

w