California - Northern

[Michael Apple]

Just returned from the Fresno Poultry Show. I brought a cage to maybe find something to bring home but was concerned about lice since I really don't have a plan yet on how to deal with them and was concerned I might introduce problems I'm not already dealing with.

Right off I walked over to the sell area and next to me was a show official and vendor auguring about something. The official proceeds to pull out a chicken, turns it over and I could see tiny bugs everywhere.

I didn't stick around to see what happened. Decided to forgo purchasing any birds either. Other than that, I had fun.

I've missed shows for the last few years. You made a wise decision. I bought birds from a show once and never would again. Even with quarantine for a month, and careful handling, new birds brought CRD. It is good to inquire with a breeder if you like his/her birds. Ask about vaccinations. Pick their brain a bit to see how well they tend to their birds, then if you decide to purchase, make an arrangement off show grounds and only buy birds not entered on show grounds.

 

[SpringPeeper]

.-. So i just got off the phone with a lady that i am getting two pairs of seramas from (smooth and hopefully frizzled) and the guy she bought them from was an idiot and didnt notice they were infested with lice when he sold them to her. so instead of getting them thursday we are waiting until the week after that way she can treat the lice and also one of the younger birds acts as if it has an upper respitory issue so she will be treating for that as well. im also getting a single male from OCSeramas and he will be here weds or thurs. this has been a crazy week. ill also be having an order of hatchery birds coming. so yay haha

also i found out the reason for so many birds dying out. a severe infestation of lice+ the cold nighttime temps weakened them to the point of death. needless to say ive DE'd everything (birds,coops,etc) and have had no more deaths or illnesses. also once i get the seramas they will be washed and have DE put on them just as a precaution and i will watch them carefully for any signs of illness or other issues.

x-x this cant be easy can it lol

Oh, dear... I hope you are the exception and the DE is enough to stop the infestation, especially since you decided to keep adding more birds in the meantime. Good luck. I'd love to see the report from Davis, if you're willing. They are always so educational.

I've missed shows for the last few years. You made a wise decision. I bought birds from a show once and never would again. Even with quarantine for a month, and careful handling, new birds brought CRD. It is good to inquire with a breeder if you like his/her birds. Ask about vaccinations. Pick their brain a bit to see how well they tend to their birds, then if you decide to purchase, make an arrangement off show grounds and only buy birds not entered on show grounds.

I have not bought chickens at shows, but I have bought reptiles and amphibians at shows. The trouble is, even if the seller is very vigilant and honest, just by being at a show the animal can be exposed to things, especially if kept in a fairly open cage like chickens usually are. I hate going to fairs or shows and seeing the public reaching or sticking fingers into pen after pen to touch the animals. I want to smack their hands!

 

[EZFarms]

once i find the report sure. i sat it down and for the life of me cannot remember where x.x i know since using the DE though i have had no issues and no deaths

 

[Sylvester017]

.-. So i just got off the phone with a lady that i am getting two pairs of seramas from (smooth and hopefully frizzled) and the guy she bought them from was an idiot and didnt notice they were infested with lice when he sold them to her. so instead of getting them thursday we are waiting until the week after that way she can treat the lice and also one of the younger birds acts as if it has an upper respitory issue so she will be treating for that as well. im also getting a single male from OCSeramas and he will be here weds or thurs. this has been a crazy week. ill also be having an order of hatchery birds coming. so yay haha

also i found out the reason for so many birds dying out. a severe infestation of lice+ the cold nighttime temps weakened them to the point of death. needless to say ive DE'd everything (birds,coops,etc) and have had no more deaths or illnesses. also once i get the seramas they will be washed and have DE put on them just as a precaution and i will watch them carefully for any signs of illness or other issues.

x-x this cant be easy can it lol

Hi nikki1496 - just a suggestion that you can either take or leave. Since you said there was a Serama that had respiratory issues may I suggest not using DE dust on it or in the coop. My Leghorns were sensitive to dusts so we used Manna Pro Poultry Protector organic spray on both the chickens and the coop crevices (directions on the label). PP can be used as often as needed since it is organic and effective and there's no extra powder or dust getting kicked up to irritate little chicken lungs. DE has a lot of warnings to use with goggles/masks/gloves and PP has no such dangers/warnings. We also use Ivermectin paste (for horses) 3x/year on our chickens topically on skin under their wings to worm them but it works to kill lice/mites also. There are a lot of methods for worming/lice/mite protection but in our case respiratory issues with our chickens is what made us go powder-less.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/05/diatomaceous-earth-de-benefitrisk.html

 

[Audio51]

.-. So i just got off the phone with a lady that i am getting two pairs of seramas from (smooth and hopefully frizzled) and the guy she bought them from was an idiot and didnt notice they were infested with lice when he sold them to her. so instead of getting them thursday we are waiting until the week after that way she can treat the lice and also one of the younger birds acts as if it has an upper respitory issue so she will be treating for that as well. im also getting a single male from OCSeramas and he will be here weds or thurs. this has been a crazy week. ill also be having an order of hatchery birds coming. so yay haha

also i found out the reason for so many birds dying out. a severe infestation of lice+ the cold nighttime temps weakened them to the point of death. needless to say ive DE'd everything (birds,coops,etc) and have had no more deaths or illnesses. also once i get the seramas they will be washed and have DE put on them just as a precaution and i will watch them carefully for any signs of illness or other issues.

x-x this cant be easy can it lol

Quote: I would definitely use something more effective than DE. I may help with prevention to some extent, but if you have a severe infestation bad enough to be killing them, I think you need to get them under control first, then use DE to maintain that. I am all for using as few chemicals as possible, but if it comes down to the life of my flock, I will do what is needed.........JMHO

 

[EZFarms]

Hi nikki1496 - just a suggestion that you can either take or leave. Since you said there was a Serama that had respiratory issues may I suggest not using DE dust on it or in the coop. My Leghorns were sensitive to dusts so we used Manna Pro Poultry Protector organic spray on both the chickens and the coop crevices (directions on the label). PP can be used as often as needed since it is organic and effective and there's no extra powder or dust getting kicked up to irritate little chicken lungs. DE has a lot of warnings to use with goggles/masks/gloves and PP has no such dangers/warnings. We also use Ivermectin paste (for horses) 3x/year on our chickens topically on skin under their wings to worm them but it works to kill lice/mites also. There are a lot of methods for worming/lice/mite protection but in our case respiratory issues with our chickens is what made us go powder-less.
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/05/diatomaceous-earth-de-benefitrisk.html

ill keep that in mind. the coop i used it in will not be the same coop the seramas will go in

I would definitely use something more effective than DE. I may help with prevention to some extent, but if you have a severe infestation bad enough to be killing them, I think you need to get them under control first, then use DE to maintain that. I am all for using as few chemicals as possible, but if it comes down to the life of my flock, I will do what is needed.........JMHO

im right there with ya. i did buy sevin in case i need it but after treating twice with DE i look at them daily when i let them out and no one has eggs or lice on them. they are missing a few feathers but i figure thats from picking from the lice

 

[Sylvester017]

I would definitely use something more effective than DE. I may help with prevention to some extent, but if you have a severe infestation bad enough to be killing them, I think you need to get them under control first, then use DE to maintain that. I am all for using as few chemicals as possible, but if it comes down to the life of my flock, I will do what is needed.........JMHO

I'm with you about using DE as a last resort. I had a bag of white food grade DE sitting around unopened for 3 months debating about its safety. After using Ivermectin and the Poultry Protector I found no reason to use the DE which had more warnings on the label than a bottle of lye! If I have to use goggles/masks/gloves to use DE how do I put goggles and masks on my sensitive chickens to protect their lungs from the DE? So many opinions out there but this argument was the one that convinced me not to use it -- especially since the Ivermectin paste and the Poultry Protector in tandem are doing a good preventative maintenance in our case.

 

[caychris]

I was tending Neil's coops today and after collecting the eggs for his customers I checked again and got 2 more eggs (1 Silkie 1 Delaware) from his pens which have males so they could be fertile

Anyone near Antioch have bator space. Would be kind of neat if they hatched.

 

[ZoiChick]

 


I would definitely use something more effective than DE.    I may help with prevention to some extent, but if you have a severe infestation bad enough to be killing them, I think you need to get them under control first, then use DE to maintain that.  I am all for using as few chemicals as possible, but if it comes down to the life of my flock, I will do what is needed.........JMHO

I'm with you about using DE as a last resort.  I had a bag of white food grade DE sitting around unopened for 3 months debating about its safety.  After using Ivermectin and the Poultry Protector I found no reason to use the DE which had more warnings on the label than a bottle of lye!  If I have to use goggles/masks/gloves to use DE how do I put goggles and masks on my sensitive chickens to protect their lungs from the DE? So many opinions out there but this argument was the one that convinced me not to use it -- especially since the Ivermectin paste and the Poultry Protector in tandem are doing a good preventative maintenance in our case.

Me three Audio51 and Sylvester017. DE may help short term but I between long term effectiveness and the danger to lungs and eyes I have serious doubts. The Wild birds are on the move and bug season is only beginning,

Meanwhile I was lucky enough to receive a replacement delivery for the poor slw chicks killed by the misrouted Express postal delivery. Thankfully the Postal Service seems to be covering their mistake financially at least. I got a case number even before they arrived as I only wanted to track them down to drive to Oakland or Sacramento to get them myself. Anyway all the new babies arrived strong and healthy. I'm so thrilled! Only a few have a bit of pasty butt but even they are growing like weeds. Thank you to Chickenhill for the expert packing and encouragement.

a few of them the day they arrived

a couple of days later, look how fat they are!

e e

They are a week old today.

 

[capayvalleychick]

Hi guys. I have a question for you re your girls and their recommitment to laying eggs. My Australorps who are among my oldest, both going on 3, and my nearly 2 year old California Grey are the only ones over a year old who are laying at this point. Should I be concerned about my older girls who hatched between April 2012 and May 2013 or am I just being impatient? I honestly don't remember how long it took after last winter's break for the, then older group to get back to it. Thanks!

This year, it seems like it took the hens a bit longer to get started and they've been laying off & on. I don't know why. It's been sunny on most days.
The pullets are laying so many eggs, it's crazy.

Since I have one blue egg layer, I've been keeping count of those eggs, so I can have a year's tally. A little unscientific data on how many eggs the blue eggers lay each year. So far, it's 22 eggs since Jan 1.