long term mite problems on the mend hopefully

[dawg53]

We used to rub kerosene on our legs and waistline before going into the woods to prevent chiggers from eating us up. I used Red Devil lye to worm my hogs too. Yep, I'm still here typing too lol.

 

[dawg53]

Not everything "natural" is good (poison ivy comes to mind) but let's talk amounts here. Will the same amount of vegetable oil and motor oil kill a plant? No. If you swallow a cup of motor oil vs. a cup of vegetable oil, which one do you think will make you sicker? Seriously, there is all sorts of horrible things in motor oil, and when left on the skin it will be absorbed by the body. Just because you don't drop dead the instant it touches you or your animal doesn't mean it isn't causing harm.

We're talking about covering a birds legs with either, not swallowing the stuff, nor messing with poison ivy.

 

[Gryphon]

StephieSky, do you have the backstory on these birds written on these forums? It sounds like they've had quite a past, and they're lucky to have you tending them so well!

 

[StephieSky]

StephieSky, do you have the backstory on these birds written on these forums? It sounds like they've had quite a past, and they're lucky to have you tending them so well!

Oh.. I wouldn't know their history. Not a very happy one from what I saw of where they used to live. I'm still surprised as I can be I have two pet chickens! lol
Thank you so much for the encouraging words I feel lucky to have them. When you fall down laughing in the garden and its just you and two chickens .... its a perfect day

 

[StephieSky]

Just an update. We're doing okay and not so okay. I'm really pleased with their legs and the worming though Those are the high points! Getting better!

I just finished with Gracie & Eliza's legs and feet. They really look improved. A regular chicken person who knows might still be offended by the way they look if they hadn't seen them the day I brought them home, but wow, they do look a 1000% better. Its just a slow process. I'm resisting the temptation to be overly aggressive with rubs, just barely. I see no evidence of irritation or living mites.



Gracies feet are still swollen. I got the call back today from the vet - She has worms .... - I hesitate to poke fun at this information being a good deal later than expected. After all, this vet saw my chickens when my regular vet would not. I did explain this wasn't exactly front page news, that I was getting help from some chicken geniuses who were super experienced with chickens. On the upside she doesn't have a staph infection and she'll likely be around a good long time to come with proper care. And ... she's decided she needs to guard her eggs and spend a ridiculous amount of time sitting on them. Bleh I'm letting her because it seems to make her happy. Liza also sits on Gracies eggs but I'm not allowed to even enter the kennel now LOL







Liza who is being a real pill today, thats the best picture I'll get ( man does she hate the camera ) has a nasty staph infection. I guess she needs to be put down if she suffers or she might just die without warning. The vets receptionist handed me over to the vet and he said unfortunately their isn't really much he can promise at this stage but there's always hope so long as she's not physically depressed yet. He advised either putting her down or putting them on antibiotics. Gracie too unless I separate them. Which I will not do. I know it sounds like I'm making the wrong choice for Gracie but these two are as bonded as can be. I just can't do it. Even when I take Gracie into the laundry sink Liza stands outside the slider and paces. She also doesn't eat well unless Gracie goes first.

The news about Liza both surprises me and doesn't at the same time I've been worried for Gracie! Not Liza! Because of how much swelling Gracie continues to have in her legs. But then again, Liza, lays no eggs since I wormed her. Before that it was abt. weekly for an egg. She also has the wormiest poo I never wanted to see so long as I live! OMG Yuck. I've been giving her grooming a bit of extra detailing to keep her as clean as possible, thinking the worms were the major issue for her.
I'll go in and pick up the antibiotic after 1 o'clock. She seems fine. Not suffering at all. Active and well able to do all the things chickens do.

So, that's where we're at. Oh, I'm also feeding them raw grass fed beef now. Its from our local rancher in JC, as that is what I get for Tommy, who is also a dedicated omnivore. As I so all the shopping I'm figuring he'll never notice.
That and they are still on the vitamins, electrolytes, ProBios and all the good foods and crumble I can stuff them with.

Just wanted to let you know how things are going. I'll update less and post when I see changes from here on out. And hope like mad Liza is included until they are well. I'm also going back out to their former home next wednesday after work, by appt., and we're all going to do what we can for the chickens they still have. And I need to get off here and go get the meds.

Thanks for the help and support! I'm pretty sure the only reason Liza is still alive right now is because of you guys. The infestation(s) being brought under control will give her at least a fighting chance here.

* ugh. I gave them my hardline # which has no vm or nothing. So I'd like to correct the above to read: Thank you to the vet for the fact they kept dialing daily until they got in touch with me!

 

[Naked Farm]

Sorry about Liza. My husband laughs at me when I cry over any of our chickens, but he grew up farming...Sounds to me like Gracie's broody. Without a rooster, it won't matter, but that's the sitting. We have 8 2wk old chicks running around our place & they're wonderful!

 

[StephieSky]

Sorry about Liza. My husband laughs at me when I cry over any of our chickens, but he grew up farming...Sounds to me like Gracie's broody. Without a rooster, it won't matter, but that's the sitting. We have 8 2wk old chicks running around our place & they're wonderful!

Thank you for that
I get very little support outside of BYC for my little obsession with my new hens. It means the world to me to be able to just talk about it and find like minded people who don't poke fun at me for being concerned. Not that I'm offended by those who do poke fun at me. I do love to find humor in everything its just really nice to be able to talk seriously about it too.

They're inside now. That took a bit of convincing. They get evicted the moment Tommy smells barnyard in the house. Which he won't do It was just getting too tough to take care of them when they were outside. They're off the antibiotics as of yesterday. Now getting their supplements and a strictly balanced diet for the next week while I keep checking their poo for any signs I didn't get all of the worms on the first two doses. No sign of mites and the scaly leg mites are looking a lot better. Now I just have to keep watch for any signs those little devils have burrowed into the skin elsewhere. Apparently scaly leg mites can sometimes get into their wattle and comb and other areas too.

With all of Gracies purring I've figured out my cats think she's talking to them. Funniest thing ever She's still acting broody and seems content to stay indoors in her nest even when its time to go for a walk outside. Liza on the other hand can't hardly wait for me to let her out and only really wants to come in at dusk. All in all I'm really pleased with their progress and I'm almost 100% certain if I can get some weight back on Liza she'll be fine I was feeding her too many treats which turned out to be counter productive so I'm not doing that any more. Just the healthy stuff from here on out

 

[Rayben2006]

Ok my polish red man is on quarantine he is infested with mites I tried the garden livestock dust yesterday an did not work today I Gave him a warm bath an it was full of little mites now I am trying garlic in the food an giving him blood worms any suggestions

poor red man

 

[Rayben2006]

Ok my polish red man is on quarantine he is infested with mites I tried the garden livestock dust yesterday an did not work today I Gave him a warm bath an it was full of little mites now I am trying garlic in the food an giving him blood worms any suggestions

poor red man

you can see he is looking thin an his waddles are pink

 

[StephieSky]

The only thing I can suggest is Sevin 5% dust (dust absolutely everything) and Ivermectin Pour On for Cattle. I got myself into a bit of a jamb because I needed to treat for scaly-leg, body mites and worms all at once. I decided because my hens were failing pretty fast to act fast too. There was really no choice. A dead chicken is a dead chicken and they were headed that direction.

I weighed my hens by weighing myself on my bathroom scale and then weighing myself with my hens. It was the best I could do. You'll need to do a search to find the proper dosage for your bird. I dosed mine on the light side but appropriate for their weight which is terribly light for a heavy breed.

In between absolutely everything I do medication wise I have been giving them a rest period of 5 to 7 days. This is when I give them Vitamins, Electrolytes and ProBios without fail. And stopped giving them junk food.

My hens combs and wattles were bright red when I got them. I later found out this was because they were running a fever They're paler now too and starting to settle into a more normal healthy flush of red.

I sure hope this helps you out some. Your boy is so pretty Look for Casportpony, Dawg53 and MichaelApple (I think those are the right spelling, but maybe not) They are incredible! Everything they've ever posted is worth a read.

The main reason mine haven't kicked up their toes is all of the information I've been getting on here when I search every little thing. One of my job requirements is to "look busy" a lot of the time so isn't that handy? lol