INDIANA BYC'ers HERE!

[LonelyPageTurne]

Ok so while I was outside earlier, I noticed some of my chickens had picked the scales off the webbing from between their toes!! After a Google search I found out that it's mites.... So how do I get rid of them and then also prevent them from coming back??? We're very new to this but I would like to be as natural as possible. We have a dirt floor with pine shavings and grass clippings mixed in. I have also been adding lemon balm leaves and some mint leaves once a week when I turn the bedding and add new. What else should I be doing/not doing?? Thanks in advance!

Check this out
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-story-of-gnarly-bunch-chapter-1.html?m=1

 

[Leahs Mom]

Ok so while I was outside earlier, I noticed some of my chickens had picked the scales off the webbing from between their toes!! After a Google search I found out that it's mites.... So how do I get rid of them and then also prevent them from coming back??? We're very new to this but I would like to be as natural as possible. We have a dirt floor with pine shavings and grass clippings mixed in. I have also been adding lemon balm leaves and some mint leaves once a week when I turn the bedding and add new. What else should I be doing/not doing?? Thanks in advance!

If you are talking about scaley leg mites, there is a product that you can pick up at your local TSC called: VetRX. There is directions in the packet. It is an essential oil product with camphor that will do the job. The EOs are diluted for poultry use. Been around for years.

If you want to DIY - applying oil (like olive oil or coconut oil) the the leg shanks and feet will also work. You have to keep applying daily for a couple of weeks. The purpose of the oil is that is suffocated the mites, kills them. Then the old scales will slough off and grow back very nicely and smooth.


You'll want to treat the cracks of the roosts too ...places where mites can go to lay eggs. Put some oil in those crevices as well to help eliminate them from the coop.

If you have NuStock around it does very well also. Just a very strong smell.

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: It sure makes the large / giant blow up pools not seem so redneck and stupid.

Almost $2000 for a new liner. Blow up pools almost as big as ours cost half as much as the new liner estimate.

 

[ChickCrazed]

Looks like the crest of the blue still has a lot of pin feathers so I wouldn't necessarily deem him a roo just yet.

I totally dig you trying to give me hope (morale is low after all this animal SICKNESS) but it would have worked better if you hadn't called him "HIM".

I'll try to not count my streamers before they've sprung. LOL I'm seeing 2/2 hedemora roos too, I think I failed chicken math this time around.

 

[Leahs Mom]

Quote: It sure makes the large / giant blow up pools not seem so redneck and stupid.

Almost $2000 for a new liner. Blow up pools almost as big as ours cost half as much as the new liner estimate.




At my dad's (where we are) there is an in-ground pool that collapsed due to neglect. I checked the price to have it re-lined and rebuilt. I can think of a lot of other things I'd rather spend that on!!! Ungodly

 

[SallyinIndiana]

Quote: It sure makes the large / giant blow up pools not seem so redneck and stupid.

Almost $2000 for a new liner. Blow up pools almost as big as ours cost half as much as the new liner estimate.




At my dad's (where we are) there is an in-ground pool that collapsed due to neglect. I checked the price to have it re-lined and rebuilt. I can think of a lot of other things I'd rather spend that on!!! Ungodly

I did not even know that in ground pools could collapse. I kind of thought of them as giant bath tubs. I googled it turns out there are many many different kinds of pools. The chemicals are not cheap either. Once I can see if my children will actually like a pool, I will decide if i want to keep it. I so want that corner of my yard for chickens. But without the pool our coop placement will look funny.

 

[Primal Momma]

If you are talking about scaley leg mites, there is a product that you can pick up at your local TSC called: VetRX. There is directions in the packet. It is an essential oil product with camphor that will do the job. The EOs are diluted for poultry use. Been around for years. If you want to DIY - applying oil (like olive oil or coconut oil) the the leg shanks and feet will also work. You have to keep applying daily for a couple of weeks. The purpose of the oil is that is suffocated the mites, kills them. Then the old scales will slough off and grow back very nicely and smooth. You'll want to treat the cracks of the roosts too ...places where mites can go to lay eggs. Put some oil in those crevices as well to help eliminate them from the coop.

If you have NuStock around it does very well also. Just a very strong smell.

Ok so I'm not sure what kind of mites they are now... I didn't see one on them but saw their poor feet are missing scales. How will I know which kind they are? Will I also have to completely remove our DL?

 

[leslea]

She wont take anything today. I cant even pry her beek open to give her drops of vitamins. I noticed this morning that she had eaten some of her food, maybe a Tblsp or so, I dont know if she drank any of the electrolyte water or not. She isnt any better at all. There was no paralysis or any warning that she was going to become ill. I thought maybe the heat was getting to her but that wouldnt explain the weakness. she cant even hold up her head ( I dont think her feather crown is THAT heavy). I gave her some water laced with baby aspirin and Spearmint leaves, In case she is having tummy issues. shes bn in her sick cage now for three days and there isnt any poo in there. I know that nots normal! Can you give chickens laxatives?

I doubt she would take it if she won't eat/drink. I'm so sorry.

 

[LonelyPageTurne]

She wont take anything today. I cant even pry her beek open to give her drops of vitamins. I noticed this morning that she had eaten some of her food, maybe a Tblsp or so, I dont know if she drank any of the electrolyte water or not.  She isnt any better at all. There was no paralysis or any warning that she was going to become ill. I thought maybe the heat was getting to her but that wouldnt explain the weakness. she cant even hold up her head ( I dont think her feather crown is THAT heavy).  I gave her some water laced with baby aspirin and Spearmint leaves, In case she is having tummy issues.  shes bn in her sick cage now for three days and there isnt any poo in there.  I know that nots normal!  Can you give chickens laxatives?

If she's not eating or drinking much than a laxative is a bad idea. You could worsen dehydration.

You might need to put her down. I'm not an expert of avian illness but it sorta sounds like mareks. If they gave her the old vaccine she could still get it.

 

[kabhyper1]

Poly-Vi-Sol is a children's vitamin - not a veterinary vitamin.

You will find it at a grocery, walmart, drug store, etc. in the baby department.

I couldn't find it in the baby dept. Most of them carry it in the pharmacy dept.