Mites or a feather eater?

[WhoDatChick]

I think you might have feather mites, which are not visible to the naked eye. Ivermectin pour on for cattle, a couple of drops on the back of their necks. Repeat in 10 to 14 days. The broken feathers will not improve, you will have to wait for then to molt naturally.

Would this also work for internal worms? I have seen a few places mentioning putting the drops under each wing and on the vent area.. for internal and external parasites.. is there a withdrawal period for the eggs? And how often do I apply?

 

[WhoDatChick]

Will using ivermectin topically also work on internal parasites should they have them?

Yes, I am wondering this as well…

 

[WhoDatChick]

Ivermectin does have an egg withdrawal period, but I forget how long. I eat them anyway, as do some others here. That's up to you, at your own risk, but if you're selling eggs, don't, to be safe. For feather (depluming mites) you need to work from the inside as they live in the feather shaft and sprays won't work. I've dealt with them a few times, and in addition to treating now, I will also recommend doseing right as they start their molt. It's good to have the Elector on hand, for red or fowl mites anyway. You can check for red mites at night, run a white paper towel underneath the roost. If it comes out smeared with red, you've got those too.

I saw this post after I asked the question about egg withdrawal… I get very nervous about treating my chickens with something new so if you don’t mind could you please let me know exactly what to do and if it’ll help internal and external… and how often… thank you so much!

 

[WhoDatChick]

Ivermectin does have an egg withdrawal period, but I forget how long. I eat them anyway, as do some others here. That's up to you, at your own risk, but if you're selling eggs, don't, to be safe. For feather (depluming mites) you need to work from the inside as they live in the feather shaft and sprays won't work. I've dealt with them a few times, and in addition to treating now, I will also recommend doseing right as they start their molt. It's good to have the Elector on hand, for red or fowl mites anyway. You can check for red mites at night, run a white paper towel underneath the roost. If it comes out smeared with red, you've got those too.

Also, they recommend the sheep drench… that’s the one I have… Ivermectin
Is that fine?

 

[townchicks]

Ivermectin can sometimes kill internal worms, but there is a lot of built up immunity to it, so I wouldn't count on it getting intestinal worms.

 

[townchicks]

Also, they recommend the sheep drench… that’s the one I have… Ivermectin
Is that fine?

It should be fine, but depending on the strength, the dosage could be different, I don't know.

 

[WhoDatChick]

It should be fine, but depending on the strength, the dosage could be different, I

Ivermectin can sometimes kill internal worms, but there is a lot of built up immunity to it, so I wouldn't count on it getting intestinal worms.

Oh man… so it’s not the easy answer I thought it was it sounded too good to be true… thank you

 

[Sefirothe]

So as an update: I received my Elector PSP from the First Aid Gear Store/Restock Your Kit on 4/18 and treated the whole flock 4/19.

I mixed up a spray bottle according to the instructions and sprayed all seven hens on the neck, vent, under wings and anywhere else I could get to skin.

In the mean time I also made a trip to my local feed store and picked up Duravet Ivermectin Pour on for cattle.

I figured I’d give the Elector PSP some time to work and see if I needed to even use the ivermectin.

The already patchy looking hens (Oreo and Fiona) stayed looking patchy. The hens with the broken feathers (Fluffy, Ding Dong, and Big Mama) stayed about the same except for Big Mama. She’s starting to get more raggedy and bare like Oreo and Fiona. And she’s head hen, so again I highly doubt it’s feather picking by others.

I do still have pinless peepers on the three with untouched or mostly untouched feathers. I’ve spent time watching them and don’t see anything other than the usual social interactions between them and a lot of self preening. Im not familiar enough with chickens to know if the preening is excessive tho.

Today I dosed everyone with ivermectin. Oreo got 1/4 ml since she’s tiny (a petite Polish) everyone else got 1/2 ml to the skin at the back of their necks near the base of their neck.

And I have to say, Fluffy more than lives up to her name, she is the hardest to get thru feathers to skin. So fluffy…

If it ever stops raining I’ll get some more pics of how they are looking today.

 

[townchicks]

You won't see any improvement until the molt.

 

[Sefirothe]

You won't see any improvement until the molt.

I had thought that the ones with bare patches would start getting pin feathers at least. I knew the broken feathers wouldn’t be fixed until after a good molt.