Can i use this for mites/lice on chickens?

[happyhens1972]

I usually use Harka Mectin to treat my girls for lice/mites/worms and it's fantastic stuff. Its active ingredient is 0.35% ivermectin and I put 5 drops on my big Orpington girls and 3 drops on my smaller girls.

I have just had to buy Virbamec Pour-On (designed for cattle) to treat my goats for lice/mites. The active ingredient is 0.5% ivermectin.

Can I use this higher strength stuff as a spot-on on my chickens if I adjust the dosage accordingly and if so, what would you suggest as the dosage adjustment?

Thanks x

 

[happyhens1972]

Bump x

 

[davedavey]

you can always dilute with water if you feel you need to.

 

[happyhens1972]

I wondered if that would be ok....any idea at what rate/dose? x

 

[happyhens1972]

bump x

 

[KayTee]

Personally I wouldn't bother diluting - I would just use 4 drops and 2 drops instead of 5 and 3. If you want to dilute, then add 2.5 ml of water to 5 ml of Virbamec, and dose as usual.

 

[happyhens1972]

Thanks...I guess I could try that on one and see if she's ok? Sounds awful to use one as a guinea pig but I'm reasonably confident they'll be fine.....apparently ivermectin has a high tolerance level x

 

[KayTee]

I use the 1% Ivermectin drops that are sold for parrots and exotic birds - 1 drop per 500g live weight, so 6 drops on my larger birds (Sussex / Marans) and 4 drops on the smaller ones (Red and black sex links). My girls aren't very happy at getting treated, so sometimes the dosing is less than accurate, but it hasn't harmed them yet!

 

[happyhens1972]

Are you sure that is 1%? I would imagine it is more likely to be 0.1%.....5 x weaker than the Virbamec xx

 

[KayTee]

Nope - definitely 1%



The dosage is 1 drop per 500g live weight, and my girls weigh around 2 or 3 kg, depending on breed.