Bright Red Skin and Losing Feathers, Not Laying

[Pal of Mr Betty]

After a $200 visit to a new vet (my usual doc was out) I am no closer to helping my birds. On the 4th of July, I made a big mistake and introduced an Americauna rooster I'd rescued to my flock. he was found in a park where someone had dumped him and a hen in the brush by a lake. He had broken feathers and major feather loss around the neck, upper wing, breast and tail feather areas. His skin is a brilliant red and his ankles were very thick and craggy. I powdered him with Permectrin and put him in with my hens. At the time, my husband was undergoing a long hospital stay and I was hoping for the best - but I should have kept him quarantined longer. I powdered him again three days ago - probably waited too long.

Now all my hens are losing their feathers, especially on their breast area - all bald - and their skin is bright red, too. The mite test came back with exoskeletons of mites, and some evidence of a mite that responds to shots of Avermectin, but can't afford for a whole flock. Blood tests are very expensive, too. The vet said the feathers on the rooster were broken on the breast area, however, his does have new ones growing in. Most of them have just fallen out, though. The hen I took in had some ingrown feathers on the bare breast area. All of them ruffle their feathers often, and the rooster flaps his wings as if he's uncomfortable. The hens have quit laying as of three days ago. Had I waited and taken them to my regular guy, he probably would have known right away.

The final advice was to clean the coop and run area with Dawn, spray diluted Permectrin II all over the coop and run, and bath the birds in Dawn, the spray them with the Permectrin. Also, separate the rooster, put mineral oil on his legs, and see if anything improves.

I am terrified that I will lose all my birds. There are feathers all over the coop and run. Does anyone know what they have? Help us, please!

 

[DelDels]

I think the medicine you are talking about is Ivermectin. It will kill mites and lice as well as worms. It is sold under the name of Noromectin 1% sterile solution. You can find it at any good livestock supply and feed store. Just give 5 drops into the mouth of mature chickens. Use about 3 drops on half grown ones. Repeat in 2 weeks. It should cost about $20. for 50 ml, enough to treat many, many times. You will need a syringe and needle to pull it out of the bottle. Don't eat the eggs for at least 2 weeks after each treatment.

 

[Pal of Mr Betty]

Thank you for the info. The vet wanted $57 a shot or something like that. Have you ever seen birds with bright red skin? Are these symptoms familiar to you?

 

[DelDels]

I have not seen the bright red skin. I have not had any mites, just lice. But I do know the Ivermectin will take care of both problems. I also use it to worm my youngsters. It is safe and effective. Maybe the treatments that I have done have kept the mites from being a problem. I do know that they can get them from wild birds so even though new chickens are not brought in your flock can get them again anyway. Its good to know how to treat them as needed. Yes, you do need to treat the coop as you were advised.

There are very few things that I would take a chicken to the vet for. Vets have priced themselves out of the chicken business. They should have sold you a bottle of Noromectin along with clear directions on how to use it. Perhaps they know so little about chickens that they didn't know that it's not necessary to inject each bird. If that is the case you don't need that vet anyway. Some folks on here don't even put it in the mouth but just on the back of the neck.

Anyway relax and know your birds will be fine. You will learn how to do this and it is easy. Get some Black Oil Sunflower seeds and feed them a couple handfuls each day. It may take a few days till they learn to eat them but then they will love them. BOSS as it is called is a great feather builder. They will be all covered in new feathers before winter!

 

[Pal of Mr Betty]

Thanks for the reassurance. My usual vet is great, but wasn't around. This one didn't know anything and I feel like I was taken to the cleaners. Taking your advice and truly appreciate your help. Guess I've been lucky to not have had this problem before in ten years of having chickens.

 

[Ntsees]

If I was in your situation, I would dust them with Sevin.

 

[littleoak]

I agree with the last post. I have had mite problems and the symptoms are the same as you describe. Use Seven dust. On the legs use vasaline with Seven worked into it. You can also use the vasaline with Seven on the very bare areas on the chickens. Dust the houses with Seven, being sure to put plenty in cracks and on perches. This has never caused any harm to my chickens and I have a few valuable game chickens that I can't afford to hurt.

 

[tellynpeep]

The vet would be risking his/her professional license to use or dispense ivermectin for the birds. It is an off-label use, and is not approved for poultry in the USA. You can certainly use it on your birds, and it is a great drug if used appropriately, but it would be a huge potential liability for your vet to prescribe it to you.
Good luck; hope your girls feel better soon!

 

[mickey328]

Ivermectin is also what is used as a heartworm preventive and treatment for dogs. My "furkids" get their dose every month during mosquito season. It can be injected or taken orally for worms and other parasites and might do well against mites if dusted on as well. It's main use is in mammals, though.

I'm sure your chickies will pull through, treat and provide lots of supportive care and TLC

 

[Patterson]

I agree with the last post. I have had mite problems and the symptoms are the same as you describe. Use Seven dust. On the legs use vasaline with Seven worked into it. You can also use the vasaline with Seven on the very bare areas on the chickens. Dust the houses with Seven, being sure to put plenty in cracks and on perches. This has never caused any harm to my chickens and I have a few valuable game chickens that I can't afford to hurt.

Do you have to toss egg using this? I have a frizzle bantam roo that has the red belly and almost no feather. He has gotten bad and I started to notice some of my other birds are losing neck feathers. I have about 10 hen losing neck feathers. I sell my eggs. I've never had this problem before.