Shadrach's Ex Battery and Rescued chickens thread.

[Shadrach]

I'm battling lice on my chickens. The lice seem to be pretty resistant to permethrin -- I treated everyone twice and now just found more lice on them all.

I got a bag of pure sulfur powder (brimstone). Most of the articles I'm reading say to put it in little sachet bags and hang them up in the coop. The old school books I have say just to dust it around in the coop and put it in the dust bath. @Molpet I remember you saying you used it. How do you do it -- in hanging bags or just dust it around? If anyone else wants to chime in, please do. Thank you.

Have you got lice in the coop?
Lice usually stay on the chicken.

 

[Shadrach]

Shad, glad to hear that you're feeling better!

I'm not. I feel like shite. This evenings test shows why.

 

[Shadrach]

I'm aware that dustbathing is their first defense against ectoparasites.

It isn't. Chickens dust bathe to soak up the old oil they secrete that conditions thier feathers. They may dislodge a few lice and mites in the process but with lice the chicken picks off those it can reach and often other chickens will pick off lice at the rear end parts the chicken with lice can't reach.

However, if one adds chemicals to their dust bath and they bathe in it the chemicals rather than the dust may kill some of the lice. I always knew when the hens Harold came into contact with had lice because he would follow them around picking them off their arses.

In general, healthy chickens don't get lice, much like other healthy creatures dont get lice. A well cared for and properly fed dog won't carry lice, nor will a country fox for examples.

Regarding your rooster not dustbathing. Many roosters prefer a differeent type of soil to dust bathe in. I don't know why and people have told me I'm talking nonsesne on numerous occasions. However, I've shown in this thread in a number of pictures exactly this preference and I have many pictures from Catalonia that show the same. In general, hens will bathe in fine dry dust; rooster rarely do, they prefer a slightly damp soil and once they've found the right spot it's very hard to get them out of the bath.

You don't have to take my work for any of this. Get some mites or lice and toss a handfull of fine dust in the air so a sprinkling lands on them and see how many you kill.

 

[Shadrach]

Further.
Most keepers provide an area for dustbathing and most chickens use these bathing areas. If dustbathing was effective at removing parasites we wouldn't be reading posts about how to get rid of lice and mites if the dustbath was effective.

 

[Shadrach]

Four hours today split evenly between morning and evening. Went home inbetween and slept.
Everyone was better behaved today.
It stayed dry bar a brief light shower and we all got time relaxing in what sunshine there was.
This looks promising. In earlier pictures it is noticable that her feathers were slightly more puffed up. She looks pretty sleek in this picture and today was pretty cool at around 13C. One of the things to look for with coccidiosis is that slightly puffed up look and resting a lot.

 

[Molpet]

I'm battling lice on my chickens. The lice seem to be pretty resistant to permethrin -- I treated everyone twice and now just found more lice on them all.

I got a bag of pure sulfur powder (brimstone). Most of the articles I'm reading say to put it in little sachet bags and hang them up in the coop. The old school books I have say just to dust it around in the coop and put it in the dust bath. @Molpet I remember you saying you used it. How do you do it -- in hanging bags or just dust it around? If anyone else wants to chime in, please do. Thank you.

I put a lb of elemental sulfur powder in the dust bath. 10lbs. Of dust bath material if making In runs.
I have a poofer that I have squirted dust into cracks, roosts and under wings and butts.

 

[BDutch]

I'm not. I feel like shite.

Not a real hug this time because I dont like to get sick from you.

Hope it gets better every day now. I suppose public transport is a no go now?
I wonder if someone brings you to the allotment and takes care of you if you feel so sick.
Glad you are still well enough to take care of the chickens and give us an update as well.

 

[fluffycrow]

Not a real hug this time because I dont like to get sick from you

 

[Shadrach]

I suppose public transport is a no go now?

Public transport is very much a no go now but not for the reasons I think you have in mind. Between the strikes, the staffing levels, the out of date rolling stock and the lack of investment I'm surprised any buses and trains run at all.
However, that is not what you meant.

You may not have noticed but Covid didn't go anywhere; or rather it went everywhere but the media got bored of the hype, the government found other things to spend our money on like war and very quietly the advice about how we should deal with Covid changed to something like what the Swedish did at the begining of the crisis; something our wonderfull politicians condemed with much self rightous crap at the time.

I've been traveling every day, some times twice a day for the last eighteen months to and from the allotments on public transport while Covid spread and mutated. I've got quite good at spotting the sick on the buses and trains and take the necessary action to avoid close contact. Many it seems believe that if they've had the jabs they can no longer contract Covid. My sister who would present herself as an intelligent person is one such. What the vaccinations do, probably in most cases, is reduce the severity of the infection. What many people it seems do not understand is you are still infectious, jabs or no jabs should you contract the disease.

My sister and her husband have been a two person super spreader event; not because they contracted Covid but because they are ignorant.

What I've learnd is fresh air and freedom of movement will help keep me well and the people I have to try to prevent from killing me are friends and family, who many, despite the vast amount of information on the subject want to rush around hugging and kissing everyone.

So, yup, I'm still using public transport. I wear a mask and choose off peak travel times when possible. I wash my hands a lot, sit by open windows if possible and in general try to keep a sensible distances from other people.
The best place for doing that is at the allotments.

 

[TropicalChickies]

In general, healthy chickens don't get lice, much like other healthy creatures dont get lice. A well cared for and properly fed dog won't carry lice, nor will a country fox for examples.

I appreciate your detailed response. The rooster part is very interesting. I have to say though that none of the chickens here appear in any way unhealthy at the moment. They are all eating everything offered, foraging, chattering, pooping normally, active all day long except for a brief rest after meals, skirmishing over the ladies (not serious), looking after the chicks, and dustbathing.

I've never had such a healthy group, actually. I'm counting my blessings. Everyone's combs and wattles are red, eyes are clear and bright, no signs of bumblefoot, scaly mites or any other problem.

But like I mentioned, as I checked everyone over, they are all -- all of them -- full of new feathers coming in -- and I've also read that lice are attracted especially to the coatings on new feathers sloughing off, so perhaps that accounts for the lice. Now that I think about it, September and October have been the most consistent "molting months" around here since I've kept chickens.

Because truly, I have a pretty good eye for when a chicken is "off" after caring for less fortunate chickens, and these chickens don't seem unhealthy at all. .

I'll try to rig up a slightly damp dust bath for Lucio. This is the last time I saw him even close to dust bathing, and this picture was taken four months ago...!