Dirty Bum Feathers, No Diarrhea

[Aunt Angus]

It's not super cold here, but I'll try dust tomorrow.

 

[Aunt Angus]

I'm an Elector PSP user. Expensive as all get out but one and done!

It never goes bad and that little bottle of gold will treat 100s if not 1000s of chickens.

It's been in my Amazon cart for, like, ever. I'll order it tomorrow.

Thanks, everyone! Hopefully, it helps keep their bums purdy!

 

[Kris5902]

Ooh - since I've got an audience...

Dust or spray?

I’m in the dust camp... cold wet weather here right now. It’s easier for me to manage/apply, and what I’m using (carbaryl, sparingly, as it’s no longer available here) has the lice literally dropping off dead and dying right after I apply it. (I washed a bum, blow dried, dusted, dried a bit more and they were falling off dead onto the table as I worked!) My figuring is if you’re going to use a chemical, hit the target hard and fast.

 

[Aunt Angus]

they were falling off dead onto the table as I worked!

Wow! That's crazy!

 

[Kris5902]

Wow! That's crazy!

Before I’ve always dusted then let them go right away, but because this girl was so ill and I was blow drying her bottom from the bath, I had her on a table and watched the tiny gross things drop off her. It was very satisfying as the little nasties had been running up my arms for about an hour... I hate lice!!!

 

[Cragg Klefor]

I have never actually used Elector, I wouldn't mind paying for a product though if it was good.
I was looking it up and came across this:
Controls houseflies, darkling beetles, and northern fowl mites
https://www.elanco.us/products-services/poultry/elector-psp

Does this mean it won't treat other types of lice/mites??

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I have never actually used Elector, I wouldn't mind paying for a product though if it was good.
I was looking it up and came across this:
Controls houseflies, darkling beetles, and northern fowl mites
https://www.elanco.us/products-services/poultry/elector-psp

Does this mean it won't treat other types of lice/mites??

It killed lice on my birds. I've never had scaly leg mites. If that's dumb luck or the fact that I've used Elector PSP and its kept them away I don't know.

I found this
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/spinosadgen.html#whatis

And info on using spinosad, the active ingredient, on people for head lice. (Good to know LOL) and pets for fleas.

 

[Aunt Angus]

Interesting. I will def do more research.

 

[Cragg Klefor]

It killed lice on my birds. I've never had scaly leg mites. If that's dumb luck or the fact that I've used Elector PSP and its kept them away I don't know.

I found this
http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/spinosadgen.html#whatis

And info on using spinosad, the active ingredient, on people for head lice. (Good to know LOL) and pets for fleas.

Great to know, thank you!

 

[Shadrach]

Hi, my BYC peeps!

I've searched many, many threads, but I can't find an answer to my girls' issue. This is my first flock, so forgive my ignorance, and this is not an emergency. Wasn't sure where else to post this...

My Cochin and my BPR have poopy bum feathers. Their poop is fine - not runny at all. I have bathed my Cochin a couple of times, and I trim her bum feathers frequently. My BPR only started having this issue recently. They eat pellet and free range for several hours a day. I give them a handful of BOSS or worms once per week. They eat/drink/run/lay/behave/squawk and carry on like their normal diva selves, and their eggs are very clean. I really think it's just that their droppings leave residue. Ew. I worry about infection if the poopy feathers sit next to their skin for extended time. And it mars my otherwise perfectly white Cochin (except for the dirty feet that I don't think I can avoid in this rainy weather).

My question is: is there something I can do/should be doing? Or is there a way to get them to use toilet paper? Or a bidet?

I will try to get pics tomorrow if I get home before dark.

I've got two with constantly dirty bums. Both are on the plump side at the rear end below their vents. I've tried everything from fiddling with their diet to trimming back the feathers below their vents. Neither has lice, or mites. I do have to clean them off now and then because the poop sets like concrete and as the feathers grow they pull as a clump if not cleaned and this can produce a rash along with the uric acid that sits next to the skin.
This is going to sound a bit gross, but neither are keen on water baths and I don't have a hair dryer to dry them properly. I use a small pair of pliers to crush the lumps and roll the individual feathers between my fingers. The dry poop turns to dust once a clump is broken.
I generally give the area prone to catching the poop a trim with some round nosed scissors and otherwise let them be. One Fat Bird, is so used to me doing this now I can do it during the day while she wanders about outside.