Overr Eazy Farm
In the Brooder
- Dec 30, 2023
- 8
- 1
- 11
Hey everyone. I have been a chicken keeper for 1.5 years now, so still new. I have 47 birds in different stages between 3 separated runs.
*I have had my first lice AND mite infestation. My main question is how severe can symptoms from lice and mites get from these infestations? I had one die (which is how I discovered the infestation) and one in chicken ICU. Both are/were lame. They still have/had some movement in their legs, but couldn’t walk or hold up their body weight. My knowledge and research has increased since the first bird died. I still can not find much research to support sustained lameness in poultry from lice and mites. I found anemia and death as major symptoms, but not sustained lameness.
I am treating with permethrin 10 diluted to the manufacturer recommendation for poultry. I did one round of spray on all birds and will do 2 more, a week apart each to eradicate any hatched larvae or stragglers. I decided to buy a full bottle of Elector PSP for the coops and premises. I have added wood ash and a dash of DE to their dusting areas. I know DE is controversial, so I used a light dusting.
The bird in ICU got ivermectin drops STAT in lieu of permethrin because I already had ivermectin on hand and didn’t want to delay treatment. He was close to death/culling, but we decided to give some intensive care for 2 days to see how he responded.
He got regular watering through a dropper with red cell mixed in. He eats fine on his own. He gets Vaseline to his legs daily in case he has undetected scaley leg mites (he has heavily feathered feet to it’s difficult to fully examine). He gets physical therapy to get his legs moving again and some time on a memory foam dog bed as it makes it much easier for him to support his weight and practice walking.
After 2 days his comb is dark red again. He is eating AND drinking on his own. He can support his own weight while sitting and can even limp to his food and water most of the time. He is preening again and chirping in a happy, non-distressed way now. It is unclear if he’ll walk again, but he is trying. If he can’t walk on his own after another 1-2 weeks, I will most likely cull due to poor quality of life and an inability for us to sustain this intensive treatment indefinitely.
Most of this was just to give you context. I originally thought Marek’s, but I have no new birds to the flock besides my own and no other sick birds since treatment. The only consistent symptoms for both birds are lameness, mites and/or lice, and weakness. No other symptoms.
Again, the main question I have is has anyone seen or heard of sustained lameness in chickens with severe lice and/or mite infestations? Also, has anyone had birds with this level of lameness every recover enough to walk on their own again?
Thanks in advance!
*I have had my first lice AND mite infestation. My main question is how severe can symptoms from lice and mites get from these infestations? I had one die (which is how I discovered the infestation) and one in chicken ICU. Both are/were lame. They still have/had some movement in their legs, but couldn’t walk or hold up their body weight. My knowledge and research has increased since the first bird died. I still can not find much research to support sustained lameness in poultry from lice and mites. I found anemia and death as major symptoms, but not sustained lameness.
I am treating with permethrin 10 diluted to the manufacturer recommendation for poultry. I did one round of spray on all birds and will do 2 more, a week apart each to eradicate any hatched larvae or stragglers. I decided to buy a full bottle of Elector PSP for the coops and premises. I have added wood ash and a dash of DE to their dusting areas. I know DE is controversial, so I used a light dusting.
The bird in ICU got ivermectin drops STAT in lieu of permethrin because I already had ivermectin on hand and didn’t want to delay treatment. He was close to death/culling, but we decided to give some intensive care for 2 days to see how he responded.
He got regular watering through a dropper with red cell mixed in. He eats fine on his own. He gets Vaseline to his legs daily in case he has undetected scaley leg mites (he has heavily feathered feet to it’s difficult to fully examine). He gets physical therapy to get his legs moving again and some time on a memory foam dog bed as it makes it much easier for him to support his weight and practice walking.
After 2 days his comb is dark red again. He is eating AND drinking on his own. He can support his own weight while sitting and can even limp to his food and water most of the time. He is preening again and chirping in a happy, non-distressed way now. It is unclear if he’ll walk again, but he is trying. If he can’t walk on his own after another 1-2 weeks, I will most likely cull due to poor quality of life and an inability for us to sustain this intensive treatment indefinitely.
Most of this was just to give you context. I originally thought Marek’s, but I have no new birds to the flock besides my own and no other sick birds since treatment. The only consistent symptoms for both birds are lameness, mites and/or lice, and weakness. No other symptoms.
Again, the main question I have is has anyone seen or heard of sustained lameness in chickens with severe lice and/or mite infestations? Also, has anyone had birds with this level of lameness every recover enough to walk on their own again?
Thanks in advance!
Last edited:
