Red Mites? HELP!

[chesterjet]

I posted last week about my 5 hens shaking their head. Treated them with antibiotics right away. Shaking did not get better. Second though was gapeworm, went out and bought some Ivermectin. Gapeworm would make sence since they are out eating lots or worms and slugs. I have not treated them with this just waiting to see the classical respiratory problems that come with it. So, looking around another possible causes is red mites. One of the hens is loosing all feathers from her head and the area looks sort of dry and red with little specks of blood. On examination I don't see any mites or lice. But this is what is making most sense to me right now. They are eating, drinking, running etc.. everything looks normal exept the head shaking (all day) and the occasional scratching around their head. So I guess my questions are:

1. Could this red mites be the cause to these problems?
2. Sevin Dust is good treatment?
3. Can we still eat their eggs?

This head shaking is driving me crazy. I really need to find the cause of the problem before it gets too bad. Thanks for any input.

Montana.

 

[FortWorthChicks]

I am thinking that sevin dust would help for mites. I wish I had more advise... bump. maybe an expert will come along.

 

[CMV]

Sounds like mites. I used Eprinex twice on mine for the same signs and symptoms. It worked like a charm. You will also need to do a through house cleaning at the same time using Oxine or something similar. Don't waste a lot of time, though. Mites can be deadly if left too long. Good luck.

 

[chesterjet]

CMV,

Thank you! I dusted them today with Sevin Dust 5%. They will be hating me for a couple of days, I am sure. I cleared out their nest and roosting box. I was planning on washing the inside really well, husband started working on some pipes and turn all the outdoor water off. He is out on a trip so......I just cleared everything out and dusted the inside really well. Will be washing as soon as I have water. One question: When did you notice symptoms going away? Should I expect to see the head shaking for a while longer?

Thanks a million for responding to my post.

Montana.

 

[CMV]

I noticed the symptoms stopped the day or 2 after I treated my birds. The relief displayed by my girls was pretty immediate. I hadn't been getting any eggs for a couple weeks and had attributed it to 1) winter and low light conditions, and 2) residual effects from a full-on molt. The day after my girls were treated they started laying eggs again.

 

[chesterjet]

CMV,

Wow! they stopped laying? mine are still at it. In fact two of them were fighting to get into the flock's favorite nest yesterday. I just went outside to feed them and still shaking their head. Keeping my fingers crossed that stops soon. I went outside late at night with a flash light to inspect them to see if anything is crawling on them. Still not see anything, but I guess these red mites are pretty hard to detect. One question though. Did you re-treat them after the first application? I am so tempted to go and do another light dusting today.

but will probably not be a good idea. Thanks a million again for responding.

Montana.

 

[CMV]

You will need to re-treat them in 7-10 days to get any newly hatched bugs. It may also be a good idea to re-clean their housing at that time. Do not re-treat them now because there is no point. Seven is very effective and any bugs on the birds are dead. The eggs from the bugs are what you need to worry about and they will be all hatched in 7-10 days.

 

[chesterjet]

CMV,

Got it. I'll dust them again 7-10 days.

:cd

 

[chesterjet]

Well, I am really at a loss of what to do here. I am so frustrated. This is day 4th after dusting with sevin, and my 5 hens are still shaking their head!!! I thought it was getting better. I went out yesterday and scrub their coop or an hour too. The only thing to do is treat them for gapeworm, but still no respiratory problems or sneezing or anything. I have some ivermectin paste 1.87%, but have heard this is pretty rough on their system. So my question is: would you go ahead and treat for gapeworm even though all symptoms are not present? They are still eating, drinking and running around normal. I am at my wits end. HELP.

Montana.

 

[MelissaA]

Have you seen the bugs? My hens shake their heads when the roo has been on them!