Need help with lice/mite issue

Katiedid

In the Brooder
8 Years
Nov 26, 2011
57
2
48
My birds are losing feathers from their butts and chest areas, so I suspect mites. My RR is the worst affected. I dusted them 8 days ago with Sevin and I'm not sure if the situation is better or worse. My paranoid side suspects worse. I am going to wait two more days a dust again, but I'm not sure that is going to solve the issue. What can I do if this doesn't work? Just keep dusting every ten days?

Also, I'd like to fatten her up a bit, just out of my own concern, is there away to do this that is healthy for her?

Is there anything else I can do? The other birds seem to be minimal/not affected, but I'm concerned about her. She still has a dark comb and is active and mobile, her laying has slightly decreased, but that maybe due to the stress of me picking her up every day and looking at her butt. I feel like she is a little skinny and I am concerned.

Any help or advice would be appreciated. I want to take good care of the birds and not lose them due to neglect/ignorance.

I've always liberally dusted with DE and they regularly take dustbaths in DE, so I'm assuming in this case that wont be a cure.

Is it possible that this isn't lice/mites?
 
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/783329/i-love-my-hens-but#post_11242954
see post #8

I don't wait until 10 days, as some of the .edu websites have mentioned a life cycle of 4-7 days for mites.

If you are concerned about weight gain on your girls and feather regrowth, I'd temporarily switch them over to a 20% protein diet like Flock Raiser or unmedicated chick starter (and oyster shells either mixed in or on the side, one lb per 20lb feed per flemingoutdoors). http://www.flemingoutdoors.com/croysh5lb.html

The protein will help them build feathers and the extra soy will help with weight gain from my experience. IF you are organic, feed organic chick starter.

Yes it is possible that it isn't mites- worms will make hens skinny but I have always seen diarrhea with the worms also- I'd definitely try nutrition and treating for mites first. They can be protein-hungry and eat their feathers for protein, thus producing feather loss. Or bored and pecking feathers in the coop.

Mites can make them run down and even kill hens, so it is something to treat before even considering worms if the poos are normal (every 8th poo or so will be liquid = caecal, normally).

*Also if you are giving scratch or lots of treats I'd try to diminish that or hold off entirely (with the exception of small amounts of vegetation for vitamins) until the feather regrowth occurs.
 
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