Stung by craigslist chickens, sick birds

[IdahoPrepper]

Well let this be a lesson to me. I have chickens of unknown age with legmites and one has been sick for a week.

This is my first time owning chickens and I rushed to get laying birds instead of waiting all the short summer we have here for the chicks to get to laying age. I am not sure I want to keep them during the winter. It might be out of my hands.

First I just need to double check the picture I am posting. Looks like mites to me after reading all of your posts and seeing the pics.

Second I have a bird that has been lethargic and not really eating or acting like all the other birds. She sits in a corner with her head under her wing part of the day. We have tried hand feeding her sick bird food and she seems to improve then relapses back. Its been 5-6 days now. Not sure what to do with her.

Here is the legs pic. All 6 birds are about the same with only one looking better but none are worse.

I am going to invomec all birds and vasoline all feet then dust coop with pyrethin dust.

 

[Michael Apple]

Well let this be a lesson to me. I have chickens of unknown age with legmites and one has been sick for a week.

This is my first time owning chickens and I rushed to get laying birds instead of waiting all the short summer we have here for the chicks to get to laying age. I am not sure I want to keep them during the winter. It might be out of my hands.

First I just need to double check the picture I am posting. Looks like mites to me after reading all of your posts and seeing the pics.

Second I have a bird that has been lethargic and not really eating or acting like all the other birds. She sits in a corner with her head under her wing part of the day. We have tried hand feeding her sick bird food and she seems to improve then relapses back. Its been 5-6 days now. Not sure what to do with her.

Here is the legs pic. All 6 birds are about the same with only one looking better but none are worse.

I am going to invomec all birds and vasoline all feet then dust coop with pyrethin dust.

Ivermectin won't do anything for the birds. It would be a good idea to deworm with Albendazole (Valbazen suspension), give vitamins-electrolyte-probiotic dispersible powder in waterers for 2 days, then treat for Coccidiosis for 5-7 days using Amprolium in waterers. 10 days after the first deworming, you should deworm again. Treat the legs 2-3 times a week with a good penetrating oil that will get underneath the scales. Work it in while wearing a pair of nitrile gloves. Nu-stock, castor oil, linseed oil work well.

Ivermectin remains in the bloodstream, not very effective for endo or ectoparasites, and scaly leg mites burrow in skin, not sucking blood like red mites or northern fowl mites do. Selamectin is a type which emits from the pores and is effective on scaly mites. Selamectin is the ingredient in Revolution, a topical treatment used for dogs to rid them of fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. About .10 cc ( one tenth) can be dropped on a 5-6 lb bird's skin. I would investigate withdrawal time for such a chemical before using it on a laying hen.

 

[IdahoPrepper]

Ivermectin won't do anything for the birds. It would be a good idea to deworm with Albendazole (Valbazen suspension), give vitamins-electrolyte-probiotic dispersible powder in waterers for 2 days, then treat for Coccidiosis for 5-7 days using Amprolium in waterers. 10 days after the first deworming, you should deworm again. Treat the legs 2-3 times a week with a good penetrating oil that will get underneath the scales. Work it in while wearing a pair of nitrile gloves. Nu-stock, castor oil, linseed oil work well.

Ivermectin remains in the bloodstream, not very effective for endo or ectoparasites, and scaly leg mites burrow in skin, not sucking blood like red mites or northern fowl mites do. Selamectin is a type which emits from the pores and is effective on scaly mites. Selamectin is the ingredient in Revolution, a topical treatment used for dogs to rid them of fleas, ticks, mites, and lice. About .10 cc ( one tenth) can be dropped on a 5-6 lb bird's skin. I would investigate withdrawal time for such a chemical before using it on a laying hen.

Huh....

Now I am confused. You sound like you know what you are talking about. I see many posts here claiming that ivomec solves the issue. Here is just one........ Now what?

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/21215/ivomec-scaly-leg-mites-pics-added

Another quote from here........

"Scaly leg mite is caused by a mite called Knemidocoptes mutans. Like other mites, Ivermectin will kill them. This isn't licensed for use on poultry though so you should really ask your Vet about using this. Typically, it comes as a spot on which means you only need to add a few drops to the skin (see our page here: http://poultrykeeper.com/poultry-medication/iverm....

There is very little blood flowing in a chicken's legs and feet so they do not really feel the cold. It is better to get them clear of the mite which will be causing them much discomfort than wait for warmer weather.

The 'bits' over their legs you describe are raised / encrusted scales. Do not try to pick these off. Vaseline will smother the mites but will also soften the legs, helping them. They will take anything up to a year to come back to normal, since they need to shed them and this is a very slow process."

 

[IdahoPrepper]

I see many many posts here saying ivomec does work. What gives?

"
Scaly leg mite is caused by a mite called Knemidocoptes mutans. Like other mites, Ivermectin will kill them. This isn't licensed for use on poultry though so you should really ask your Vet about using this. Typically, it comes as a spot on which means you only need to add a few drops to the skin
There is very little blood flowing in a chicken's legs and feet so they do not really feel the cold. It is better to get them clear of the mite which will be causing them much discomfort than wait for warmer weather.
The 'bits' over their legs you describe are raised / encrusted scales. Do not try to pick these off. Vaseline will smother the mites but will also soften the legs, helping them. They will take anything up to a year to come back to normal, since they need to shed them and this is a very slow process."

Another.............

"
Ivermectin - Used For Worms, Lice And Mites In Chickens

Ivermectin is an anti-parasite medication, effective against most worms (not tapeworm), mites and some lice including scaly leg mite and northern fowl mite. Ivermectin pour-on / drops is applied to the skin.
Ivermectin Drops are usually sold under the Small Animal Exemption Scheme for use in rabbits, Guinea Pigs and ornamental birds. Products licensed under the Small Animal Exemption Scheme are not licensed for use in food producing animals such as chickens and it is for that reason that there is no information relating to the withdrawal period for eggs or meat following use of Ivermectin Drops on poultry. Where there is a licenced alternative, vets will prescribe the licenced product. To treat worms - Flubenvet is the (only) licenced in feed product.
In the absence of licensed alternatives, veterinarians do sometimes prescribe this product for poultry under their own clinical judgement to treat lice in poultry. However, it is only a veterinarian who can advise on such use and it would breach of the veterinary medicines regulations and NOAH code of practice by supporting, or encouraging the use of this product on a non-target species. It is for this reason that we are recommending that you seek the advice of your vet before purchasing and using Ivermectin on your chickens or other poultry. Avermectins are more toxic to waterfowl than chickens so this is particularly important if you are treating ducks or geese.

Uses: Sometimes prescribed by Vets to treat endoparasites (worms) and ectoparasites (lice and most mites including scaly leg mite). Remember red mite live in the house, so housing will require alternative treatment.
Formats available: Injectable, oral or drops for skin. Pour on drops are usually prescribed.
Dosage: For the treatment of an existing infestation, repeat doses are required often weekly three times.
Egg Withdrawal period: As advised by Vet, depends on the strength of solution. Vets prescribing Ivomec Eprinex usually advise 7 days.
Slaughtering for meat for human consumption: As advised by Vet, depends on the strength of solution. Vets Prescribing Ivomec Eprinex usually advise 28 days.
Category: POM-VPS
Storage: In original packing below 25ºC and out of reach of children.
Sold in UK as Ivomec, Xeno 200, Noromectin, Harka Mectin, Heartgard30 and Acarexx."

 

[IdahoPrepper]

Ivermectin - Used For Worms, Lice And Mites In Chickens
Ivermectin is an anti-parasite medication, effective against most worms (not tapeworm), mites and some lice including scaly leg mite and northern fowl mite. Ivermectin pour-on / drops is applied to the skin.
Ivermectin Drops are usually sold under the Small Animal Exemption Scheme for use in rabbits, Guinea Pigs and ornamental birds. Products licensed under the Small Animal Exemption Scheme are not licensed for use in food producing animals such as chickens and it is for that reason that there is no information relating to the withdrawal period for eggs or meat following use of Ivermectin Drops on poultry. Where there is a licenced alternative, vets will prescribe the licenced product. To treat worms - Flubenvet is the (only) licenced in feed product.
Click-to-Buy-ivermectinIn the absence of licensed alternatives, veterinarians do sometimes prescribe this product for poultry under their own clinical judgement to treat lice in poultry. However, it is only a veterinarian who can advise on such use and it would breach of the veterinary medicines regulations and NOAH code of practice by supporting, or encouraging the use of this product on a non-target species. It is for this reason that we are recommending that you seek the advice of your vet before purchasing and using Ivermectin on your chickens or other poultry. Avermectins are more toxic to waterfowl than chickens so this is particularly important if you are treating ducks or geese.

Uses: Sometimes prescribed by Vets to treat endoparasites (worms) and ectoparasites (lice and most mites including scaly leg mite). Remember red mite live in the house, so housing will require alternative treatment.
Formats available: Injectable, oral or drops for skin. Pour on drops are usually prescribed.
Dosage: For the treatment of an existing infestation, repeat doses are required often weekly three times.
Egg Withdrawal period: As advised by Vet, depends on the strength of solution. Vets prescribing Ivomec Eprinex usually advise 7 days.
Slaughtering for meat for human consumption: As advised by Vet, depends on the strength of solution. Vets Prescribing Ivomec Eprinex usually advise 28 days.
Category: POM-VPS
Storage: In original packing below 25ºC and out of reach of children.
Sold in UK as Ivomec, Xeno 200, Noromectin, Harka Mectin, Heartgard30 and Acarexx.

 

[Akrnaf2]

To control leg mites, take one part of kerosine and two part of linseed oil and
brush the mixture whit a toothbrush on the chicken legs once a month, it works wonderfully! Don't use any internal drug if you want to eat the eggs or the chicken!

 

[dawg53]

Ivermectin is ineffective as a wormer in poultry due to its overuse in poultry as a miteacide. I've used it and found myself having to use a different effective wormer 30 days later, such as albendazole or fenbendazole. The same is true for eprinex.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0450.1989.tb00635.x/abstract
Ivermectin will not treat poultry lice. Poultry lice do not suck blood. ivermectin is effective against cattle lice that do suck blood.

 

[Michael Apple]

Ivermectin is ineffective as a wormer in poultry due to its overuse in poultry as a miteacide. I've used it and found myself having to use a different effective wormer 30 days later, such as albendazole or fenbendazole. The same is true for eprinex.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1439-0450.1989.tb00635.x/abstract
Ivermectin will not treat poultry lice. Poultry lice do not suck blood. ivermectin is effective against cattle lice that do suck blood.

X2. http://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2540&Itemid=2816 :
Macrocyclic lactones (e.g. ivermectin, moxidectin), whether for oral delivery or as injectables do not control northern or tropical fowl mites: the effective dose would be very close to the dose that is toxic for the birds.

The scaly leg mite is another small (~0.5 mm) mite that infests chicken, turkey and other domestic and wild birds worldwide. It does not suck blood but burrows into the skin tissues under the leg scales, causing inflammation and exudation.

 

[Michael Apple]

I see many many posts here saying ivomec does work. What gives?

"
Scaly leg mite is caused by a mite called Knemidocoptes mutans. Like other mites, Ivermectin will kill them. This isn't licensed for use on poultry though so you should really ask your Vet about using this. Typically, it comes as a spot on which means you only need to add a few drops to the skin
There is very little blood flowing in a chicken's legs and feet so they do not really feel the cold. It is better to get them clear of the mite which will be causing them much discomfort than wait for warmer weather.
The 'bits' over their legs you describe are raised / encrusted scales. Do not try to pick these off. Vaseline will smother the mites but will also soften the legs, helping them. They will take anything up to a year to come back to normal, since they need to shed them and this is a very slow process."

Another.............

"
Ivermectin - Used For Worms, Lice And Mites In Chickens

Ivermectin is an anti-parasite medication, effective against most worms (not tapeworm), mites and some lice including scaly leg mite and northern fowl mite. Ivermectin pour-on / drops is applied to the skin.

Whichever site put out that info, it is just another example of misinformation existing on the web.

 

[IdahoPrepper]

OK ,

I will take your word for it and do what you said above for worms and water supply. I will also buy NU-Stock for the legs and coat them with it. I have (permethrin) powder for the coop. Am I good to go with that combo?

Do we toss the eggs we collect in the trash while de-worming? What about wazine dewormer?

I wont ever buy used birds again. I had no idea what I was in for. The worst part is we are also raising chicks and not the coop and backyard is infected with who knows what???