lice!!!

[appps]

I read it here:http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com and it sounded like a good idea. I don't have enough ashes to put in a little wading pool, or to cover around the run so they can dust themselves. But I'm going to save them next winter for that purpose, if this works! After dark, dusted Mr. Chicken (he didn't complain but just a wee little bit...), Greenie (I got her out from under the coop finally), and the other one I couldn't catch! So now everyone has had their ash bath!

Hopefully, I'll see some feather regrowth and not everyone scratching and pecking at themselves (which I first thought they were preening - but I now think that nobody preens that much!) Chickens and I had a busy 2 days and I am (excuse the expression here...) pooped!

Couple of thoughts. If they have an infestation bad enough to cause feather loss and constant pecking and preening they may need a chemical treatment to bring it under control before the ash can keep it there so watch carefully to make sure the ash was enough. Also mine had them and I hadn't realised and by the time I did realise they had lost a lot of weight. So in case yours have done the same I'd feed them up a bit for a couple of weeks. I gave mine a morning mash with scrambled eggs and some bird vitamin powder sprinkled over. Oh and btw mine had got to that underweight condition without even showing the scratching signs yours were so have a feel to see if yours have pronounced breastbones Under their feathers just in case. I wouldn't have known to watch for it but I had one at the vets for something else and he noticed the lice and the being underweight and said you shouldn't have a pronounced breastbone.

 

[NewbeeDoo]

Couple of thoughts. If they have an infestation bad enough to cause feather loss and constant pecking and preening they may need a chemical treatment to bring it under control before the ash can keep it there so watch carefully to make sure the ash was enough.

Also mine had them and I hadn't realised and by the time I did realise they had lost a lot of weight. So in case yours have done the same I'd feed them up a bit for a couple of weeks. I gave mine a morning mash with scrambled eggs and some bird vitamin powder sprinkled over.

Oh and btw mine had got to that underweight condition without even showing the scratching signs yours were so have a feel to see if yours have pronounced breastbones Under their feathers just in case. I wouldn't have known to watch for it but I had one at the vets for something else and he noticed the lice and the being underweight and said you shouldn't have a pronounced breastbone.

Out of curiosity...how long to they loose their feathers for after a treatment? I did our second treatment for lice with permethrin and today I went out to clean the coop and there are more feathers than the first time we washed them for sure! I also noticed some of the feathers looked whole, and others looked as though they were shorter than they should be. I've also noticed the last few evenings them all out in the run 'preening' before dark...I thought this was just mosquitos, but after seeing all the feathers, I'm not so sure...!

 

[appps]

I don't know but we were feather central there for a while too. I started treating about 3 weeks ago I guess and feathers are no longer dropping and one of them looks like its molting and has got pin feathers growing in round its neck but the others look normal.

 

[LittleBits]

Quote: Thank you so much - they all look OK, act OK... but I will check those bones. This is the main bone, that curves around their front, under their necks, right? If they are pronounced, could they possibly have worms as well? I will probably need to treat for that, also.
Why does everything have to be so expensive?

I've been reading up on the worming stuff and looks like the Valbazem is the way to go...but it's SO high $$.

Can I feed them back their eggs during the withdrawal time when I treat for worms? Or if I have to use Sevin for the mites/lice? We don't have any other animals to feed them to - hate to waste all those eggs but I know we can't eat them for quite awhile, especially since you have to treat again in 10 days...

Thanks again for bringing this to my attention.

BYC is awesome!!

Just thought of another question: How do you tell if they are molting?

 

[appps]

He said you feel down low sort of near what you would call their tummy I guess. It's that bone you feel running down the front. He said it shouldn't be pronounced.

No idea on the eggs. If in doubt on worms you can take a poop sample to the vet and for about $20 they check it under the microscope. It may be worthwhile paying that rather than paying for the medicine and having to buy eggs because of the withdrawal time in case they don't have worms at all.

If they do see signs you will then know which type you are treating. Not all medications treat all types. Sometimes vets will also re bottle a small amount of an expensive medication for you so it can work out cheaper too. Just know your feed store prices so you know if you are actually getting it cheaper though lol

 

[Haltey]

How long after you treat can you consume the eggs? We treated with dusting powder (permethrin?)...used to treat lice/mites....for 20 birds but only one showed ANY signs of lice with eggs on the feather base..Dusted the coop and the birds lightly, but not sure if or when eggs are safe to eat? I will have to check and treat again in a week or so...Thanks for the info..

 

[LittleBits]

How long after you treat can you consume the eggs? We treated with dusting powder (permethrin?)...used to treat lice/mites....for 20 birds but only one showed ANY signs of lice with eggs on the feather base..Dusted the coop and the birds lightly, but not sure if or when eggs are safe to eat? I will have to check and treat again in a week or so...Thanks for the info..

Here is a link that someone else posted on BYC - about egg withdrawal times. I found it very helpful. http://www.cfo.on.ca/_pdfs/PoultryWithdrawalTimeChart-Mar30-07.pdf

Permethrin is the active ingredient in Sevin.

 

[LittleBits]

He said you feel down low sort of near what you would call their tummy I guess. It's that bone you feel running down the front. He said it shouldn't be pronounced.

No idea on the eggs. If in doubt on worms you can take a poop sample to the vet and for about $20 they check it under the microscope. It may be worthwhile paying that rather than paying for the medicine and having to buy eggs because of the withdrawal time in case they don't have worms at all.

If they do see signs you will then know which type you are treating. Not all medications treat all types. Sometimes vets will also re bottle a small amount of an expensive medication for you so it can work out cheaper too. Just know your feed store prices so you know if you are actually getting it cheaper though lol

I finally found a post that addresses the feeding the eggs back to the CHICKENS issue: posted by "Dawg" last year sometime.
Quote from Dawg: "It's best to discard eggs for the recommended withdrawal times. There's residue in the eggs which could possibly extend the withdrawal period. More importantly, the residue could help internal parasites build resistance to the wormer in time, rendering the wormer useless in time. Ivermectin comes to mind as an example. It has been overused in poultry as a miteacide rather than its primary purpose as a wormer.
Giving the eggs to dogs is ok. But I recommend calling a vet first and finding out if the breed in question is susceptable to that particular wormer residue as some breeds are susceptable."

 

[A HappyHenLover]

What does VCO stand for?

 

[A HappyHenLover]

That great info for getting rid of the eggs....

I'll have to give it a try. Just hope I can find some VCO. Thanks for the tip!!!

What does VCO stand for?