San Diego Chicken meetup and Chat thread

[Phage]

And only $14.50 + shipping

I am in the wrong business......

 

[RyeRanch]

That sounds good. the blood may also be normal shedding of the intestinal mucosa, but always good to assume (and treat) the worst, especially with those babies.

Congratulations on the legbars BTW   e


Looks like I have just had 2 white hen chicks hatch.

Very cool. I have cream hen and a white rooster. Maybe we should get the whites together and start a flock of whites.

 

[Compost Girl]

Hello, everyone!

I have finally decided that my Mom's chickens have scaly leg mites. I thought it might be age and remnants of the Bad Dog Incident of 2010, but it didn't look right to me, so I started checking. The scales do stick out a bit on their legs.

Except for free-ranging in the backyard, they are pretty isolated in her humongous coop (well, maybe not so isolated or humongous-seeming now, thanks to contributions from Miriam and Dana), so I think it must be overhead birds or some other critter. I know nothing about scaly leg mites, so I'm throwing this out there and hoping I get some advice. Okay, so good advice, please.

I have been told to smother the mites by dipping their legs in either Vaseline or vegetable oil (which just seems so wrong). Clean the coop well, and put D.E. in there. Do this a few weekends in a row.

I have also heard that Ivermectin is really good for lots of things. The Oracle said 1 drop topically every 6 months for mites, worms, and brain cell development (okay, so she didn't say that part), but I haven't been able to find any yet. I think I'm going to have to mail order that part, and I guess I just hope they have a liver left after we're done. No, and it's not because I want the liver for any reason, either.

Anyone want to wade in on this, before I go to her house tomorrow to do the Great Chicken Vegetable Dip of 2012? Wow. We're back to "so wrong."

 

[Phage]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Ivermectin-...ltDomain_0&hash=item3f1702501d#ht_2715wt_1230

I don't see mention of brain cell development issues....

Also this ad is for 1lt. Enough to treat all chickens in San Diego county for about 10 years
I have a small bottle and have only used a tiny amount in 3 years. Most of that was given away. You are welcome to some while you decide if you want to get some/can find some.

I usually just treat everyone with it once a year when they are moulting. I don't use anything else (except DE in the nesting areas). And I have never seen a worm or anything icky on them.

 

[Phage]

Quote:
Sounds like a plan

 

[jandrusrn]

We went to the fair yesterday (Wednesday). The animals aren't too thrashed yet by the idiot populace (as in, "What a cute fluffy chicken - what happens if I poke it with my corn dog stick?"), so it was still fun to walk through the barns.

I also have to admit that I have never seen chickens quite that big, and a few of them actually scared me (Did you see Jurassic Park? I'm pretty sure they used poultry for the CG). Maybe we should let one of the roosters out of the cage the next time the corn dog stick comes out, then we'll see the survival of the fittest. I will buy tickets (but sit far away to watch).

If any of you are into gardening, they have a great planted veggie section in the infield by the horses. They close everything down at 6:00 p.m., so I didn't see the active demos, but the garden was great. Make sure you look at the vertical pallet garden, if you're into different ways of growing.

By the way, if you thought Swifty Swine Pig Races were the weirdest thing in livestock - think again. This year it's turkey races.

Love the vertical gardening.... trying it in my yard. Is this the San Diego Fair? Ours up here in OC is coming at the end of the month..... big big chickens huh? I saw a ton of those huge drumsticks last year. Wild stuff.....

 

[Compost Girl]

I don't see mention of brain cell development issues....

Also this ad is for 1lt. Enough to treat all chickens in San Diego county for about 10 years
I have a small bottle and have only used a tiny amount in 3 years. Most of that was given away. You are welcome to some while you decide if you want to get some/can find some.

Of course not on the brain cell part. When you told me it did worms and mites, it sounded like something that would leap tall buildings in a single bound, and I was still on the Ginsu Knife commercial in my head from the "but wait" ChickieDickie extravaganza, so I stuck it in there to be squirrely. Ivermectin apparently can turn your rooster chicks into hens, too, though, I read somewhere (So maybe not on that one, either. I must stop posting BYC comments on payroll-week Fridays, or I will soon be banned for slap-happiness. I will stop and go to bed soon. I promise.).

M - Thank you for your kind offer, and I would like to take you up on it to fix this embarrassing personal issue for the girls, but I'm kind of scared to go near you. I still have the tub with 6 peeping in my back office. And the 12 in the incubator in the kitchen. And I spent an hour this evening on the floor of the 2nd coop with 4 more of your 3-month-olds sitting on my lap. Is it safe? And if I do cave in and meet up with you, can I bring you some D.E.? If would make me feel less guilty. Okay, so maybe it's because I might bring my husband with me to carry it, and he will stop me from running so eagerly toward my inevitable doom.

 

[Phage]

You should see my garage........ And basement.......

Didn't know about the roos to hens bit.... (need to check up on that).

BUT WAIT!! there IS more!!!! You ARE right about its brain enhancing powers - if the roos to hens bit is correct... (better stop there before I get banned....)

 

[Aumlet]

How do you know if there's a mild case of scaly leg?

One of my older hens has slightly raised scales on her legs, that are brittle at the tips, but they don't look at all like pictures on google of scaly leg. Are a chicken's legs supposed to be smooth as a baby's behind and supple as a yogini? If so, we're in trouble.

My girls get to free range in the evening, and we have wild birds in and out of our yard. There's no limping or discoloration, but I'm new to chickens and don't know what to worry about. Aaargh!

Off to look at cute pictures of chicks in ponchos. Makes everything better.

 

[perchie.girl]

Hello, everyone!

I have finally decided that my Mom's chickens have scaly leg mites. I thought it might be age and remnants of the Bad Dog Incident of 2010, but it didn't look right to me, so I started checking. The scales do stick out a bit on their legs.

Except for free-ranging in the backyard, they are pretty isolated in her humongous coop (well, maybe not so isolated or humongous-seeming now, thanks to contributions from Miriam and Dana), so I think it must be overhead birds or some other critter. I know nothing about scaly leg mites, so I'm throwing this out there and hoping I get some advice. Okay, so good advice, please.

I have been told to smother the mites by dipping their legs in either Vaseline or vegetable oil (which just seems so wrong). Clean the coop well, and put D.E. in there. Do this a few weekends in a row.

I have also heard that Ivermectin is really good for lots of things. The Oracle said 1 drop topically every 6 months for mites, worms, and brain cell development (okay, so she didn't say that part), but I haven't been able to find any yet. I think I'm going to have to mail order that part, and I guess I just hope they have a liver left after we're done. No, and it's not because I want the liver for any reason, either.

Anyone want to wade in on this, before I go to her house tomorrow to do the Great Chicken Vegetable Dip of 2012? Wow. We're back to "so wrong."

Even if your birds are completely isolated and no contact with other chickens is happening..... Wild birds can bring it in. Biosecurity suggests you change your shoes and clothes after visiting other chickens.

I have treated scales with oil and Vaseline and the premise is the little blood suckers don't breathe like we do. They have Spiracles (sp>) along their sides that open to allow air in and out. Cover those with oil and they smother. I know this works because I had an ear tick infestation in my Horse many many years ago. We used mineral oil. This was before Ivermectin had been invented.....

But now that ivermectin is around I use it for my horse and goats to worm them. So much better than the alternative from 1967....

You can buy ivermectin as pour on cattle wormer which is the stuff you put in drop form right on the skin of the chicken. Yep it goes right in. through the skin so use rubber gloves. This is non label use so you wont find anything official that will tell you how much to dose your poultry. But I am certain there are a few here that use it and know the dosage.

Definately treat your coop with more than DE possibly Seven dust and all the other birds with Ivermectin. And Assume that you will have to do a second dose after the incubation period of the next gen of mites. After that use the Diatomaceous earth as a prophylactic.

I had a whole flock once with mites and its a heart rending thing to deal with when its out of control.. And No Chicken mites dont like people or dogs or cats.

The places mites congregate lay their eggs are where two pieces of wood come together closely but are not sealed. They find refuge in the spaces between nailed boards even.

deb