RID lice shampoo for scaly legs?

[Linda V]

Yep, I have 100 chickens at my backyard, but I love them all

I just thought of something! HOW on earth did you count them all? They never stand still for more than 3 seconds...lol!

 

[Poultrybreeder]

Honestly I have to estimate, but I do count the best I can during feeding time, they usually sit still then

 

[Linda V]

Close enough, right? lol! I hope your "back yard" is at least 3 acres! We started out using their coop (which we raised and mounted on a tractor) in the backyard until we saw the horrendous damage they did to the grass! That was the end of that idea! If not for hawks during the day, I'd let them out but they would still make a mess out of our landscaped areas...so they are confined to the large cove, run & 2-story coop! Not too shabby tho! Some people don't have this good...lol!

 

[Linda V]

Honestly I have to estimate, but I do count the best I can during feeding time, they usually sit still then

 

[Poultrybreeder]

My yard is in a pecan field, which is hundreds of acres, so I wouldn't worry about the space anyway! They are all free-range

 

[Linda V]

Holy cow! Hundreds of acres! No wonder you don't worry about them doing their "rototiller" thing! They really do turn a lush, green grassy yard into something like the surface of the moon! Bet you make some nice $ from those nuts too! Win/win!

 

[Poultrybreeder]

Some of the trees are ours, but the majority belongs to a big time owner, he doesn't care that they go in his fields though, we really good connections with him. The chickens eat his weeds

 

[Poultrybreeder]

2 pecans and a crabbapple, not much, but its worth it

 

[Wickedchicken6]

Over 100??? OMG! It's all I can do to keep these two hens alive! I enjoy looking after them, however, so I consider it a "labor of love"...but on your scale...I think they'd have to institutionalize me at some point...lol!

BTW...I've got hardwood ash (pure from our pit) in their large sandbox, with a little chicken-grade DE, poultry powder (w/permethrin) and chicken-safe sand! It's also the floor of their coop, their nests in summer/spring and their 14-foot run! There's no way they can get away from it, except when rooting around for bugs in their large cove!

I also have the BriteTap cooler set up in the shade with electrolytes, minerals & ACV in the water and...here's the thing you'll really like...every morning I bring them 1 store egg, scrambled with a tad of minced garlic in it, a 1/4 pinch of cayenne pepper and a handful of shredded sharp cheddar! Oh boy do they love that!

I'm sure you know why the garlic, cayenne pepper, and ACV in their diets, but I don't think this would work too well for you with your HERD of chickens! I reckon this means you don't have names for all of them either? Just kidding!

Well, we've got one oil treatment done, another 10-15 to go, but if you have time, could you just tell me one thing?

AFTER this blight is over....considering all I told you here, do you still think I have to do this every summer or can I just catch them and put POULTRY PROTECTOR on their legs and feet as a preventative or is the sand, ash, DE & garlic enough to prevent it in the future?
Thanks and now I see why you go by "WickedChicken!" Unbelievable!!!

ps: Here are some pics of their "environment"....the "cove" is raptor proof from above, the other areas are predator-proof on the sides & dig-proof from below!

In the fall, I convert the run into a sun tunnel and they love being in it during the day to bask in the warmth of the sun! High tech materials: Clear, shower curtain liners..lol!
I also covered the lower windows/doors with clear shower curtain liner to keep out the rain, wind, snow, ice & that stays on all year round. Only 6 feet of curtain nearest the front door remains in place year round. These winter pics are from 2016.

Will submit pics in a few days of Abigail's and Henrietta's legs...right now they look better but that's cuz they aren't DRIED OUT. I didn't expect to see so much YELLOW on their upper legs either...guess that's the color when wet or moist?

Note: The coop, run & cove are in the shade 95% of the day in spring/summer but in winter, they are open to the sun pretty much all day....perfect placement!

Bye for now!
Linda V in NC

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I think institutionalizing me has been discussed.

That's a very nice treat for your girls. You're correct, I don't feed them a cooked egg with garnishings. That would be quite an undertaking everyday.

I do, however, feed them a 1-3 dozen raw eggs most everyday. They love that!
And I do have names for quite a few of them. They're production...but they're also pets. I didn't plan that...it just kinda happened...lol.

With two chickens, you'll be able to keep a close eye on things so I don't know if I'd worry so much about treating them as often once they are healed and mite free. I'm going by the information that the mites reproduce every 10-14 days and basing treatment on that.

Like Poultrybreeder, I also free range the chickens and I see the sparrows and the pigeons eating with the flock. So I'm cognizant that it will be almost impossible to be completely free 100% of the time for me.

I'm not as familiar with Poultry Protector being that I'm from Canada. I intend to continue using the spray type cooking oil because it's effective on the mites, it's easy to use and it's cost effective. Remember, the leg mite breathes through it's cuticles so an oily spray/liquid will be effective at blocking it's ability to breathe...thus killing it. The sand, ash etc may help in controlling mites like the northern fowl mite on the hens' body...but an oily product/insecticide will work the best to kill scaly leg mites on the legs.

 

[Linda V]

I DID IT! I finally got the nerve to corner and catch my two hens with my bare hands! I followed the great videos online showing exactly how to accomplish that so now, I can do their "oil dip" every day without having to get any help from my hubby! He was so proud of me last night!
And...it only took me 365+ days to finally get over my fear/anxiety of touching/handling/holding them!

It was a major accomplishment for this 71-yr old "mother hen"...not joking!

Btw....I really enjoyed cradling them in my arms so they couldn't flap, while I sweet talked them and gently ran my hand down their backs until they were calm enough for the dipping! I just position them over the deep metal coffee can and in go the legs - up to their bodies and then we sit there for a nice long soak for approx. 5 minutes!

This seems to have made our relationship much better too!

Next challenge: Feed them blueberries or green peas out of my palm! Hope this doesn't hurt me as I'd love to do this with my girls too!

PHOTOS COMING TOMORROW as I have to continue with the (olive oil) "dipping" procedure for at least another week to ten days! Legs looking a tiny bit better each day and those nasty growths are beginning to shed off....thank God!

LindaV in NC
7/26/17