Ivermectin for mites

[casportpony]

I've been reading through some old threads regarding using Ivermectin for mites. I've read 3-5 drops on the base of the neck for application. The only Ivermectin I'm familiar with is the paste I used to worm horses. Is this type of application referring to an injectable liquid? Are there any other topical treatments I could apply for mites? I'd rather not use the powder dusting method as I'm on my own for a week and that looks like a 2 person job.

I would use the permethrin spray if treating chickens. Easy, just go in at night grab them one by one and treat. Or, if it's just mites, you might be able to just spray them while they are on there perch.

Ivermectin can be used, but it should be given according to their weigh, not "x number of drops". Think about it... how big is a drop? is it 0.02 ml or is it 0.1 ml? all depends on your dropper, right?

 

[casportpony]

Is there an alternative spray to permethrin I could use? If I go with Ivermectin, what would be the correct dosage?

The 1% injectable (10 mg/ml) can be given orally, by injection, or topically, and the dose range for birds, depending on where you look is 0.2 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg, but *most* sources say 0.2 to 0.4 mg/kg.

0.2 mg/kg = 0.009 ml per pound (five pounds gets 0.045 ml)
0.4 mg/kg = 0.018 ml per pound (five pounds gets 0.09 ml)
0.6 mg/kg = 0.027 ml per pound
0.8 mg/kg = 0.035 ml per pound
1 mg/kg = 0.045 ml per pound

Pay close attention to the decimal point in the above doses! (cc = ml)

Many peafowl owners use the cattle pour on topically (5 mg/ml), and the amount they use is 0.5 mg/kg to 1 mg/kg. That works out to:
0.5 mg/kg = 0.02 ml per pound (five pounds gets 0.11 ml)
1 mg/kg = 0.045 ml per pound (five pounds gets 0.23 ml)

Does that help at all?

 

[Trish1974]

I would use the permethrin spray if treating chickens. Easy, just go in at night grab them one by one and treat. Or, if it's just mites, you might be able to just spray them while they are on there perch.

Do I spray their entire bodies? On top of the feathers or part them and spray their skin?

 

[casportpony]

@Trish1974 , if you have mites you will need to spray your coop and nesting areas, because the red mite lives in the coop and feeds on the bird at night, so I would suggest that you get some of this from Tractor Supply:

 

[casportpony]

Do I spray their entire bodies? On top of the feathers or part them and spray their skin?

When I use it for lice I get it on their skin, but I think @Folly's place said she was successful treatin mites by just spraying the feathers.

 

[Trish1974]

As far as I know its just red mites. At least that is what I saw when I lifted up the bedding in the nest boxes. So for the mites I can just spray them on top of the feathers? Do I spray their entire bodies and legs or just a squirt or two a piece? As for which treatment I go with it will come down to what the farm store has to offer. Unfortunately they usually don't have much...

 

[Trish1974]

I ended up going with the Ivermectin for topical treatment and a permethrin powder to clean the coop. From @casportpony's dosage (thank you by the way) I calculated 3 drops per bird and dropped it against the base of their necks. Since it was topical do I need to discard their eggs for awhile?

 

[casportpony]

Egg withdrawal is something like 4 weeks

 

[casportpony]

@Trish1974 , ivermectin is absorbed through the skin into the bloodstream which is why there is a withdrawal.

 

[Trish1974]

Thank you @casportpony and everyone else who responded. I really appreciate the help!