Post Pics Of Orps/ Orpingtons HERE

[thedragonlady]

You need to check around your birds' vents for louse eggs and mites. These nasty bugs tend to get busy in the fall, and find a nice place to spend the winter on birds.You can get permethrin dust at TSC to use on your birds in cold weather.I would use it now as wild birds carry these parasites, and with this extreme cold, your birds don't need to be fighting bugs.

 

[iokra]

how do you use the wood ash? on the bird or in the coop or both? Or I have to place it someplace so they can bath in it? Could I use Frontline or similar product that is meant for dogs or cats? Maybe just a drop?

 

[thedragonlady]

how do you use the wood ash? on the bird or in the coop or both? Or I have to place it someplace so they can bath in it? Could I use Frontline or similar product that is meant for dogs or cats? Maybe just a drop?

Why not use the permethrin dust?" It is made for chickens, and available at TSC country wide.

 

[Suzierd]

how do you use the wood ash? on the bird or in the coop or both? Or I have to place it someplace so they can bath in it? Could I use Frontline or similar product that is meant for dogs or cats? Maybe just a drop?

As a preventive you can have some wood ash mixed with a little dirt for them to dust in somewhere in there run but if you see any bugs I wouldn't count on the wood ash as the poster above stated it didn't help her chickens, you need to treat them. I use Frontline for cats/kittens I get the spray bottle and put three too four drops on the back of the neck depending on the size of the chicken, once every three months as a preventive. I also sprinkle the permethrin poultry powder in there dust bath and coop/nest boxes now and then. I can't stand the thought of any bugs on my chickens.

 

[iokra]

Yes, permethrin sounds like a good product to use. Can you consume the eggs if you use the frontline?

 

[thedragonlady]

Yes, permethrin sounds like a good product to use. Can you consume the eggs if you use the frontline?

If you are talking about Frontline Spray, I would think so. It works by spreading through the coat in dogs. It is not a systemic that would affect eggs.It does have alcohol in it though,which I don't want to spray on my birds' vents.

 

[Nickeechickee]

Besides actually seeing bugs, what are the symptoms? I don't like treating with chemicals if there is no need.

 

[thedragonlady]

Besides actually seeing bugs, what are the symptoms? I don't like treating with chemicals if there is no need.

You need to LOOK for bugs on birds like Orps. With mites, you will see little red,or black dots around the vent. With Lice, you'll see eggs at the feather bases, and a few scurrying around on the skin. These parasites will cause a bird to feather pluck due to their constant biting.Birds will lose weight, and go pale in the face,because they are anemic.Since wild birds carry mites and lice, a good preventative treatment 4 x a year,keeps your birds bug free.Coop-0s need to be sprayed too as some mites live in the cracks, and feed on the birds at night.

 

[Suzierd]

Yes, permethrin sounds like a good product to use. Can you consume the eggs if you use the frontline?

Frontline is not carried in the bloodstream so should not effect eggs. I was told by a Vet it was safe to use. The cat/kitten only. And I don't use the concentrate I get the spray on and put some in a dropper , put drops on back of neck.

 

[fowlman01]

Keeping bugs off chickens is a full time job. Check the vents often, also look around the eyes. Once they get out of control the parasites will be much harder to treat. Wild birds, rodents and poor management are the usual reasons you have bugs on birds. If you8 keep up with it it is not a big deal. Let it get ahead of you and it can become a huge deal. These parasites can kill birds, so this is not somehthng you just "put up with".

Walt