Scabby swollen faces. Northern Fowl mite infestation. Help pls!

[cowcreekgeek]

Sorry it took me a while to get back. It is indeed fowl pox. It doesn't have anything to do with the mites, that's just been another loosing battle. I had t put Kabob down She wouldn't eat or drink for 3 days.

Bouillon still looks absolutely horrible but she is still eating semi-normally, we have to help her eat and drink because the swelling around her eyes is so bad she has a hard time finding her food. we are giving her tylan 50 because we did start to notice a little weezing and some mocos coming from her nose. We are keeping her in a dog kennel in the bathroom to keep her a little warmer and to keep her away from the mite infested coop. I plan on bleaching that today. I was going to try the hot sauce method on the dirt, some people said that definitely works. Any other sugegstions for getting rid of mites in the dirt? Here are some pictures even in the last 4 days it has changed it looks less pussy and we are also putting iodine on the scabs. Which is to help them dry out and fall off. Things like neosporin and vetercyn keep them moist, opposite of what you want. I will try to keep this updated. So maybe this can help someone else out. I was so stressed trying to figure this out and it took me a while to realize it was fowl pox and then what to do from there

Vicious disease, indeed ... goin' through this w/ 'em is reason enough not to update folks via the 'net ... no apology req'd ...

The ACV will help considerably w/ respiratory symptoms, as well as removing the excess mucus.
As for the mites? I'd dust 'em, but if you're hopin' to avoid permethrins, which do break down w/in 30 days, ypu can use pyrethrum, made as an extract from chrysanthemums (surely spelled that wrong ~'-)
Murphy's Oil Soap and plain white Vinegar makes for a good treatment of the roosts and boxes, after a good cleaning. I've been using this in a spray bottle, directly on my birds, and at fairly high concentrations (positive 2 tablespoons of each w/in a standard spray bottle'd be fine).

Biosecurity is a subject that often comes up after such infections, but that's sorta like pointing to the open gate, after the cows ate the corn. And, although I do believe in scrubbin' up and changing shoes before/after dealin' w/ birds? These viruses are everywhere, a some w/in wild birds, and others carried by various biting insects ... somebody's always gonna wind up w/ the short straw.

Sorry you've had to go through this. The only comfort I can offer is the fact that they'll not be carriers -- once the virus has run it's course? They're done w/ it ... and, hopefully, so are you.

 

[xxadrixx]

What is AVC? Also for the pyrethrum, which kind do you use or suggest? I googled it and saw dust and liquid cleaner and even a fogger. When you say it breaks down in 30 days that means it must be reapplied?? I had been using DE as a preventative and poltry protector and that worked for the first 2 years and then this past summer when it got super hot it was like someone dropped a mite bomb on my poor girls. Now they are even coming in the house. We have been changing our shoes washing our clothes if we go out there and we stripped the sheets and vacuumed the couches. I've been taking extra showers every time I go out to the coop, it's crazy. I'm thinking about getting this taken care of professionally b/c it is so outta control.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

What is AVC? Also for the pyrethrum, which kind do you use or suggest? I googled it and saw dust and liquid cleaner and even a fogger. When you say it breaks down in 30 days that means it must be reapplied?? I had been using DE as a preventative and poltry protector and that worked for the first 2 years and then this past summer when it got super hot it was like someone dropped a mite bomb on my poor girls. Now they are even coming in the house. We have been changing our shoes washing our clothes if we go out there and we stripped the sheets and vacuumed the couches. I've been taking extra showers every time I go out to the coop, it's crazy. I'm thinking about getting this taken care of professionally b/c it is so outta control.

I'm sorry ... thought I'd already cover this: ACV is an acronym for Apple Cider Vinegar, which should be added to the water at the rate of four teaspoons per gallon of water (but never in galvanized metal containers). The tannin it contains helps to 'cut through' the coatings in the mouth, throat and intestines, and helps the birds expel the mucus. It is an effective treatment for many respiratory diseases/illnesses. This improves the uptake of nutrients/vitamins, and any medicines offered, and further boosts their immune systems. The target pH is about 5~6, which creates a hostile environment for internal parasites. And, it won't harm a single feather on any bird.

Wow ... it's time to get permethrin 10% concentrate, in my opinion. It's a synthetic, rather than the natural form (pyrethrum), but is reportedly even more safe for those that come in contact w/ it, and still more effective upon the insects. It's often the active ingredient w/in lice shampoos for use on humans. I have used it for years, personally, for controlling fleas, flies and mosquitos in/around our home, but not where flowers attract the bees. It is permitted w/in commercial kitchens, for example, and is often used by the professionals ... at about $20 US / Pint for this concentrated form, it makes *MANY* gallons (potentially hundreds of gallons) to run through any garden sprayer or spray bottles. Some insects can develop resistance to it, but for your initial treatments? I figure you could pretty much wipe out your infestation w/ it.

Something I have not done, as it's not allowed in organic operations, is adding a synergist such as Piperonyl Butoxide (I think) ... makes it much more effective, and more difficult to break down ... which is why I haven't used a synergist (as I prefer it to go away after a month or so ~'-)

Most often, it's suggested that you first determine the specific lice/mites, but Permethrin is an effective treatment for/against 'em all, save for the Scaly Leg Mite. Here's a brocure on external parasites, which provides other alternatives, as well as confirmation of my point.

SoOo ... all told? You're lookin' at about twenty two bucks in exprenses, in order to hopefully correct every problem you've got.

 

[xxadrixx]

Oh! Duh, I have heard of using ACV (totally brain farted), I didn't know exactly how it works though. I will definitely give that a try too. I will also look into permethrin 10%. Thanks very much, very helpful. Here is a pic of Bouillon today. I believe it is about day 9. The scabs are a little extra brown from the iodine which seems to help them dry up. Today she has been scratching her face a lot, poor thing, like a kid with chicken pox. A pretty big gross chunk came off from around her eye which is great b/c that helps her vision a little. For the first time she found the food by herself without us holding it to her face. She is still eating and drinking well and she laid an egg yesterday (she stopped for almost a week). I wish I could make her stop laying, poor thing, I know her body is stressed.

Also her comb is starting to lean over, I'm thinking it is due to big yucky scabs on one side, I hope not for any other reason.

 

[cowcreekgeek]

That's such a hard thing to watch ... really feel for y'all ...

You can offer chickens aspirin at the rate of 25 mg/lb of body weight per day -- you could provide 1/2 doses twice per day in any manner convenient, or by free choice in water at at a concentration of 324 mg/gallon.

On the Permethrin 10%, there is a silver seal -- make sure it's not been lifted on the one you buy. And, when mixing? Wear safety goggles, so as to be certain none of the pure, undiluted form gets into your eyes, and store it in a cool, dry and safe place; it's relatively safe, once mixed, but not 'til then.

For the chicken's sake, I'd drop the extra eight bucks 'n get a can of the Poultry and Garden Dust w/ Permethrin as well, and apply it individually to each w/in your flock, working it under their feathers ... it'll help make 'em more comfortable, as it's a dry application, and will help to alleviate their itching. Use the mixed on your dogs, as they won't mind it too much, and you can spray your shoes, and mist your pantlegs and sleeves as well, so as to help prevent the lice/mites from makin' it onto your body, or reinfesting your home.

 

[xxadrixx]

Here she is on day 12. I can see her whole eye! The areas around the eye still has the lumps so when she pecks at a single grain/corn etc she will miss. But with a whole tray of food in front of her she has no problem. I haven't been putting iodine on her anymore she is much more active and back to her fiesty self so getting that on her eye and not IN her eye is near impossible. But they scabs are coming off by themselves and drying up pretty quickly. From what I've read it takes about 3-4 weeks so this seems like great progress to me. We did 5 days of the tylan 50 which ended 2 days ago, no more sneezing, weezing or boogers

Still working on getting to spray down the coop with the peremethrin 10% I got an 8oz bottle for 8 dollars, it makes a ton & my coop is very small. I power washed the coop & will get out there with the spray asap. O and also for the last 3 days have added ACV to her water (1tsp /quart or 4tsp/ gallon)

 

[cowcreekgeek]

Here she is on day 12. I can see her whole eye! The areas around the eye still has the lumps so when she pecks at a single grain/corn etc she will miss. But with a whole tray of food in front of her she has no problem. I haven't been putting iodine on her anymore she is much more active and back to her fiesty self so getting that on her eye and not IN her eye is near impossible. But they scabs are coming off by themselves and drying up pretty quickly. From what I've read it takes about 3-4 weeks so this seems like great progress to me. We did 5 days of the tylan 50 which ended 2 days ago, no more sneezing, weezing or boogers

Still working on getting to spray down the coop with the peremethrin 10% I got an 8oz bottle for 8 dollars, it makes a ton & my coop is very small. I power washed the coop & will get out there with the spray asap. O and also for the last 3 days have added ACV to her water (1tsp /quart or 4tsp/ gallon)

Where you're dealin' w/ the 'dry type' of fowlpox, it actually looks far worse than it is ... unfortunately, it sorta slowly sweeps it's way through flocks, but -- once you're done? You're done -- no more fowlpox, ever. Somethin' else I've started doin' here is the use of murphy's oil soap and vinegar in a spray bottle, as my own way of washing them down: I just throw out some food, aim from various angles, and repeatedly squeeze the trigger, but a garden sprayer would sure make the job much quicker/easier ~'-)

 

[chicken pickin]

I have not tried this as I have not had mites, but I would if I did:
My son moved into an apartment and discovered a bedbug infestation. He does not use pesticides, so he was freaking out, especially because the little buggers are pesticide resistant, and hide in tiny cracks and crevices and in bedding.
He used alcohol. When it evaporates it desicates bugs. Community chickens site just had an article on using vodka for cleaning, and it works under the same principle: the bacteria is desicated when the alcohol evaporates.
So instead of poisonus isopropyl alcohol, go get a bottle of cheapest brand vodka and a spray bottle to spray down the entire coop and run area.
I would also do the soil...
Also, you might want to keep the chickens caged so they do not peck at each others wounds...

This is interesting I wonder what is better a pesticide spray or vodka like you are saying? Im gonna google that thanks

 

[chicken pickin]

Here she is on day 12. I can see her whole eye! The areas around the eye still has the lumps so when she pecks at a single grain/corn etc she will miss. But with a whole tray of food in front of her she has no problem. I haven't been putting iodine on her anymore she is much more active and back to her fiesty self so getting that on her eye and not IN her eye is near impossible. But they scabs are coming off by themselves and drying up pretty quickly. From what I've read it takes about 3-4 weeks so this seems like great progress to me. We did 5 days of the tylan 50 which ended 2 days ago, no more sneezing, weezing or boogers

Still working on getting to spray down the coop with the peremethrin 10% I got an 8oz bottle for 8 dollars, it makes a ton & my coop is very small. I power washed the coop & will get out there with the spray asap. O and also for the last 3 days have added ACV to her water (1tsp /quart or 4tsp/ gallon)

It seems like you are doing very well with all this. Great job. I hope your hen makes a full recovery.

 

[rollkeeg877]

theres a chicken powder you can get from the feed store for horses pigs gouts chickens ducks geese and game breeds its for the northern fowl mite and all other infestation that those animals get i just went out and got some