Looking for suggestions

[Kaleen Morris]

Thank you for your help. I just joined this group, "Oh how I wish I had joined sooner" I want to make sure I'm replying to each post but not sure I am. I am going to get Elector PSP or Ivermection pour on today to treat the birds and coop and also find out about worming and hopefully get things turned around for the birds. Do their eggs become bad when they are sick? I'm asking because although egg laying has slowed down, (in hine sight probably because of their health) We have still eaten their eggs. Is a flock of 16 birds and 1, possibly 2 Roosters too large to treat and maintain? I don't know how I would go about downsizing. Their all just pets and we do not plan to eat them but of course I do have my favorite 8 that I could down size to, Im just not sure how to go about that or if that is necessary

 

[staceyj]

It’s a process.

If the weather is terrible I would seriously hold off for a few days.

Leg mites are addressed by cleaning the legs then applying something like various types of oil or Vaseline which acts to smother the mites up under the scales. This is done for a few days running. Then repeated after an interval.

Some people say scrubbing with an old toothbrush, some say no. Personally I’m a yes vote on the scrubbing.
I don’t mean scrub to death, but loosening the accumulated dirt and mite excrement, in my opinion, allows the smothering substance to work more efficiently.

Treating the coop involves cleaning it out completely then treating it and all it’s nooks and crannies to kill the bugs.
They have a “life cycle” unfortunately, so this process needs to be repeated in 10 days to break it.

Then the birds need to be treated either with the “pour on” or a spray or a powder.

Here are some products I have at my house.

Wear gloves.


This is a powder.
Pretty self explanatory.
Worthless container though.
Like a Parmesan cheese can.
Use a funnel to transfer some to an old sock rubberband it shut. Use like a powder puff on the birds bodies in areas detailed below.



This is a “stable spray”. There are lots of brands. Quite easy to treat the birds with. Spray 2 squirts under each wing, on vent, on back, and around neck.
Don’t get it in the eyes.



This is a concentrate spray.
So you’ll need a sprayer bottle.
It is VERY concentrated!
You only need a tiny amount to make a bottle of it.
You must read the directions carefully or talk to someone at your feed store.

*never throw away directions.
I keep mine in that ziplock bag taped to the container.

 

[MissChick@dee]

Very good point being winter.
You can worm them now. I do not know where you are located or what type of stores you have available. Look for a “broad spectrum” wormer that will take care of a wide variety of worms. I started with wazine (which is what I had available. It kills round worms (the most common worm) in their water. Then I followed up with invermectin for other types of worms. See what your choices are in your area. You can always come here for suggestions based on what’s available to you.
You could find a dusting powder for mites. Remove all bedding dust each bird paying attention to the vent/under wings and leg area. Come spring you could clean out spray the coop and your birds. This is what I would do.
Please don’t feel bad. We ALL learn. The only way I’ve ever learned myself. You just don’t know you’ve got a problem until you do right?
The good news is that your a concerned chicken owner and it’s just a little life lesson. Dang chickens!!! LOL
So find out what you have available as far as Dusting powder. And wormers. And let us know.

 

[Kaleen Morris]

It’s a process.

If the weather is terrible I would seriously hold off for a few days.

Leg mites are addressed by cleaning the legs then applying something like various types of oil or Vaseline which acts to smother the mites up under the scales. This is done for a few days running. Then repeated after an interval.

Some people say scrubbing with an old toothbrush, some say no. Personally I’m a yes vote on the scrubbing.
I don’t mean scrub to death, but loosening the accumulated dirt and mite excrement, in my opinion, allows the smothering substance to work more efficiently.

Treating the coop involves cleaning it out completely then treating it and all it’s nooks and crannies to kill the bugs.
They have a “life cycle” unfortunately, so this process needs to be repeated in 10 days to break it.

Then the birds need to be treated either with the “pour on” or a spray or a powder.

Here are some products I have at my house.

Wear gloves.

View attachment 1655914
This is a powder.
Pretty self explanatory.
Worthless container though.
Like a Parmesan cheese can.
Use a funnel to transfer some to an old sock rubberband it shut. Use like a powder puff on the birds bodies in areas detailed below.

View attachment 1655911 View attachment 1655912 View attachment 1655913

This is a “stable spray”. There are lots of brands. Quite easy to treat the birds with. Spray 2 squirts under each wing, on vent, on back, and around neck.
Don’t get it in the eyes.

View attachment 1655910

This is a concentrate spray.
So you’ll need a sprayer bottle.
It is VERY concentrated!
You only need a tiny amount to make a bottle of it.
You must read the directions carefully or talk to someone at your feed store.

*never throw away directions.
I keep mine in that ziplock bag taped to the container.

 

[Kaleen Morris]

It's 17 Degrees here today with temps predicted to be 1 on Thursday so should I get on the coop cleaning now or wait a week to see if the colder temps subside a little. I hate knowing they have mites and that their living in a mite infested house. Should I allow them to live in the small coop or force them back into the larger coop?

 

[MissChick@dee]

All wormers and sprays come with a suggested “egg withdrawal period” meaning the manufacturer suggests that you do not consume eggs during that period of time. Some people stick strictly with the instructions.
Some will feed the scrambled eggs back to the birds as not to waste them. Usually after a week. But... then you have a second treatment in 10-12 days (depends on product) so effectively you could go one month without eggs.

 

[MissChick@dee]

It's 17 Degrees here today with temps predicted to be 1 on Thursday so should I get on the coop cleaning now or wait a week to see if the colder temps subside a little. I hate knowing they have mites and that their living in a mite infested house. Should I allow them to live in the small coop or force them back into the larger coop?

If it were me this is what I would do. I’d get powder. I’d get permethrin. I’d clean out and replace the bedding and powder the coop. If you can get permethrin you could apply it .... like they do for dogs flea medication. In a squeeze bottle mix some permethrin (according to directions) and apply small amounts at the top of the back(above vent) a dab under each wing a few dabs down the back of the bird and a dab between the legs where they would lay on the roost. I’d wipe down the roosts where they sleep at night.

 

[Kaleen Morris]

All wormers and sprays come with a suggested “egg withdrawal period” meaning the manufacturer suggests that you do not consume eggs during that period of time. Some people stick strictly with the instructions.
Some will feed the scrambled eggs back to the birds as not to waste them. Usually after a week. But... then you have a second treatment in 10-12 days (depends on product) so effectively you could go one month without eggs.

 

[Kaleen Morris]

Okay Thank you

 

[MissChick@dee]

Good luck. Keep us posted.