Pine tar and brittle feathers

[Michael Apple]

We have been dusting with poultry powder (permethrin) every 5 days to rid a heavy louse infestation so that might take care of the mites too. I did not de-worm them as I read you cannot eat the eggs afterwards and I have lots of customers, but if you think it might help the girls I will do it!

Do you think it is possible that the coconut oil is encouraging them to nibble on their own feathers?

If this is a habit, is there any way to stop it? I have not read about any successful methods.

The infestation of lice or mites requires more than just treating the birds with something effective. The birds are likely stressed and uncomfortable, so you need to treat premises in addition to birds, or the problem will persist. Something effective needs to be used in that case, such as what is recommended in this article:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ig140

 

[HillsideEstate]

Thank you! I did initially treat their coop and nesting boxes with the same dusting powder in combination with DE. But I will definitely try it again along with one of the other suggestions in the article.

Thank you!

 

[Michael Apple]

Thank you! I did initially treat their coop and nesting boxes with the same dusting powder in combination with DE. But I will definitely try it again along with one of the other suggestions in the article.

Thank you!

You're welcome. Over lots of years, I found dusts to be less effective than even some of the more mild emulsified concentrates like Permectrin II. DE does nothing except irritate the respiratory tract over time, despite the popularity of it (likely because it is cheap, "green", and everyone is trying to make a buck off it). It sounds good until it gets in the air sacs of birds or lungs of humans where it cannot be removed. When I say clean house, I mean remove all shavings and vacuum out all dust. Focus sprays on cracks and crevices and follow label instructions for safe use.

 

[HillsideEstate]

I am planning on going to the co-op on the way to work tomorrow to get the spray.

You said you vacuumed out the coop & chips. Do you have a dedicated shop vac? or an old household vac? All I have available now is a broom and some brawn, and likely more broom. Will that get enough of the chips out?

Do you replace the chips? Or just leave the floor plain. It is a wooden floor.

Will the spray alleviate their discomfort immediately or do you have suggestions for a soothing topical?

Thanks-Kate

 

[HillsideEstate]

I had tried blu-kote on the wounds but it didn't deter pecking. I am unfamiliar with roost bullying and will do a internet search. It might be occurring at night. I have gone in a few times at night, usually to apply meds to the wounds. I will see an occasional peck on the neighbors head but I attributed that to everyone shuffling around because I disturbed them.

Is there a way to stop it? There is more than enough roost space but...

 

[HillsideEstate]

I'm a country hick from hell but I never heard of putting pine tar on a chicken. Where do you even get pine tar now days?
I suggest applying blue coat, and if your feed and space is correct then check for roost bullying in the evening. That may be when the pecking is occuring.

I had tried blu-kote on the wounds but it didn't deter pecking. I am unfamiliar with roost bullying and will do a internet search. It might be occurring at night. I have gone in a few times at night, usually to apply meds to the wounds. I will see an occasional peck on the neighbors head but I attributed that to everyone shuffling around because I disturbed them.

Is there a way to stop it? There is more than enough roost space but...

Do you know what the cause or solution is to roost pecking??

 

[ChickenLegs13]

I had tried blu-kote on the wounds but it didn't deter pecking.  I am unfamiliar with roost bullying and will do a internet search.  It might be occurring at night.  I have gone in a few times at night, usually to apply meds to the wounds.  I will see an occasional peck on the neighbors head but I attributed that to everyone shuffling around because I disturbed them.

Is there a way to stop it?  There is more than enough roost space but...

A roost bully is a hen that turns psycho at roost time, between when they first get on the roost and when it turns completely dark. A little pecking, squawking and jockeying for position is normal but my 2 roost bullies take it to the extreme by pecking another hen on the back relentlessly until it jumps off the roost, then attacks the next one and the next one until she has the entire roost bar to herself, then walks up down guarding an entire 10' roost bar. I have to keep these 2 hens in a pen by themselves where they each have their own roost bar.

 

[HillsideEstate]

How did you identify this? Did you sit in the coop roosting time? Mine usually all are cuddled together with most girls on the top roost and about 3 on the bottom one. But that doesn't mean they aren't trying to get a roost all to themselves.

 

[Michael Apple]

I am planning on going to the co-op on the way to work tomorrow to get the spray.

You said you vacuumed out the coop & chips. Do you have a dedicated shop vac? or an old household vac? All I have available now is a broom and some brawn, and likely more broom. Will that get enough of the chips out?

Do you replace the chips? Or just leave the floor plain. It is a wooden floor.

Will the spray alleviate their discomfort immediately or do you have suggestions for a soothing topical?

Thanks-Kate

I use a large dust pan and a broom to get out the bulk, I loosen dust off the wood with a broom, then use a shop-vac to get out the rest of the dust. Better penetration of product in wood without a layer of dust. Be sure to use a mask/respirator rated for the task you are performing. I use a pump yard and garden sprayer to apply product. Atroban EC, Ravap EC are few I use in rotation. Both are labeled for safe use on poultry like Permectrin II. I replace pine shavings every time after spray product has dried. Then birds can have acces to the coop again. The spraying of the birds is to rid them of ectoparasites. That will give them relief. If there are a few sores you want them to stop picking, try a little Vick's vapo rub on the area.

 

[ChickenLegs13]

How did you identify this?  Did you sit in the coop roosting time? Mine usually all are cuddled together with most girls on the top roost and about 3 on the bottom one.  But that doesn't mean they aren't trying to get a roost all to themselves.

In my case it sounded like a predator attack going on at roost time. Hens squawking, flapping, screaming and bouncing off the walls. I would stand there and watch to see what was happening. My 2 bullies are small, mild mannered, 4 year old mixed breed hens low on the pecking order that avoid contact with the other hens during the day but at roost time they turn psycho and throw much larger & meaner RIR hens off the roost. They won't even share a roost with each other.

If you determine that it is indeed roost bullying and not mites etc you can hang a curtian (feed sack) from the ceiling to roost bar to divide it into a sections, or have both your roost bars at the same height, if possible, to relieve competition for the high roost.