The Front Porch Swing

[Searsmom]

Michelle, you have my prayers also! Please give your son a BIG hug and tell him not to give up on his dreams. If not the Navy, maybe he look into being a law enforcement officer.

At this point, I want to at least get a couple of layers for Lena. She looks so tiny in that huge coop. I let her out in the yard yesterday, but she doesn't stay long. She heads back to the coop.

I appreciate everyone prayers and thoughtful replies.

Bee, you always have my prayers!

Lisa

Poor Lena

Lacy, I can't believe I didn't think of that. Doh! If that's what she's doing, she has a HUGE crop. More power to her. I guess I'll wait and see if she continues to lay.

 

[Gldnrose]

I'm sorry you've been under the weather. I hope over the next few days you feel better and better...

Thank you. It's been a tough winter this year.

 

[Gldnrose]

Could I ask a favor from you guys? Most of you have way more chicken experience than I do and I am having a problem with my hens. I posted over in the predator/pests thread.

It's called LICE, MITES OR ? ANY HELP APPRECIATED.

I've only gotten one person to respond and as much as they are trying to help I think they are stymied about it as much as I am.
If you'd rather have me just post the question here with the pics I can do that too.

Sorry to bug about a chicken problem, I just cant figure out what is going on.....
Just to add a note that's not in original post....all the girls are active, eating, drinking, laying. No one seems "sick" in any way.
Thanks for any help.

Another bitter day here. Hopefully last day of it though.

 

[ocap]

Could I ask a favor from you guys? Most of you have way more chicken experience than I do and I am having a problem with my hens. I posted over in the predator/pests thread.

It's called LICE, MITES OR ? ANY HELP APPRECIATED.

I've only gotten one person to respond and as much as they are trying to help I think they are stymied about it as much as I am.
If you'd rather have me just post the question here with the pics I can do that too.

Sorry to bug about a chicken problem, I just cant figure out what is going on.....
Just to add a note that's not in original post....all the girls are active, eating, drinking, laying. No one seems "sick" in any way.
Thanks for any help.

Another bitter day here. Hopefully last day of it though.

i found your question and do not know the answer.

 

[chickenboy190]

Could I ask a favor from you guys? Most of you have way more chicken experience than I do and I am having a problem with my hens. I posted over in the predator/pests thread.

It's called LICE, MITES OR ? ANY HELP APPRECIATED.

I've only gotten one person to respond and as much as they are trying to help I think they are stymied about it as much as I am.
If you'd rather have me just post the question here with the pics I can do that too.

Sorry to bug about a chicken problem, I just cant figure out what is going on.....
Just to add a note that's not in original post....all the girls are active, eating, drinking, laying. No one seems "sick" in any way.
Thanks for any help.

Another bitter day here. Hopefully last day of it though.

Sorry I don't know you answer .Hope she gets better though.

 

[Lacy Blues]

Could I ask a favor from you guys? Most of you have way more chicken experience than I do and I am having a problem with my hens. I posted over in the predator/pests thread.

It's called LICE, MITES OR ? ANY HELP APPRECIATED.

I've only gotten one person to respond and as much as they are trying to help I think they are stymied about it as much as I am.
If you'd rather have me just post the question here with the pics I can do that too.

Sorry to bug about a chicken problem, I just cant figure out what is going on.....
Just to add a note that's not in original post....all the girls are active, eating, drinking, laying. No one seems "sick" in any way.
Thanks for any help.

Another bitter day here. Hopefully last day of it though.

I think your hunches are right. Lice and/or mites. Lice are really really fast and in those buff feathers, they'd be almost impossible to see. I use the ivomec. I use a little plastic pump spray bottle like what you would get at Walmart... empty little bottles meant to be filled with your travel bathroom items. I spray above and below the vent and anyplace else I find them. I limit the amount though because this stuff is made for cows... WAY heavier than any chicken. I've never worried about eggs after using it. Usually if a bird has a lot of these critters, they're not laying anyway. Whatever you use you need to do it quickly. In my part of the country, these dang lice and mites will chew right through the skin and get underneath. The blood and loss of feathers in the area could be from the other girls seeing the bugs and trying to help. Check their entire bodies. They will venture well beyond the vent area. Lice seem to like the thighs too. Just sweep aside those long skirt feathers to look at the skin of the thighs, outer and inner. Check the hackle feathers and feathers right behind the wattles. Check all over but just do a few spritzes of spray in a few key places. That will be enough to kill the little vermin!

 

[Gldnrose]

Thank you for looking chickenboy190 and ocap.
Hopefully more will look and have some idea.

 

[lindz8504]

Could I ask a favor from you guys? Most of you have way more chicken experience than I do and I am having a problem with my hens. I posted over in the predator/pests thread.

It's called LICE, MITES OR ? ANY HELP APPRECIATED.

I've only gotten one person to respond and as much as they are trying to help I think they are stymied about it as much as I am.
If you'd rather have me just post the question here with the pics I can do that too.

Sorry to bug about a chicken problem, I just cant figure out what is going on.....
Just to add a note that's not in original post....all the girls are active, eating, drinking, laying. No one seems "sick" in any way.
Thanks for any help.

Another bitter day here. Hopefully last day of it though.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/860447/lice-mites-or-warning-gross-pictures-any-help-appreciated

Here's the link to the thread.....

I'm not sure what it is.... The scab place looks more like a wound rather than lice/mite damage that I have seen before. Hope someone knows more than we do!

 

[Gldnrose]

I think your hunches are right. Lice and/or mites. Lice are really really fast and in those buff feathers, they'd be almost impossible to see. I use the ivomec. I use a little plastic pump spray bottle like what you would get at Walmart... empty little bottles meant to be filled with your travel bathroom items. I spray above and below the vent and anyplace else I find them. I limit the amount though because this stuff is made for cows... WAY heavier than any chicken. I've never worried about eggs after using it. Usually if a bird has a lot of these critters, they're not laying anyway. Whatever you use you need to do it quickly. In my part of the country, these dang lice and mites will chew right through the skin and get underneath. The blood and loss of feathers in the area could be from the other girls seeing the bugs and trying to help. Check their entire bodies. They will venture well beyond the vent area. Lice seem to like the thighs too. Just sweep aside those long skirt feathers to look at the skin of the thighs, outer and inner. Check the hackle feathers and feathers right behind the wattles. Check all over but just do a few spritzes of spray in a few key places. That will be enough to kill the little vermin!

They must be fast if that's what they have because I have looked and looked and haven't seen one critter, lol.
When I get home I will do a recheck. They are going to be sick of me by the time this is all done!

I will be getting ivomec tomorrow. Working today and cant get to store.
A lot of threads I have read where people use it say they put 3 drops on back of neck. Do you not recommend that or you just prefer to spray? Seems like spraying would be a lot more than 3 drops. Sorry, not questioning you, just trying to cover all bases before I do it. As with any research, you end up finding many different opinions and methods. Also, would I have to retreat and what period of time would I have to?
And, on the other thread I posted that I had read people use the ivomec for cattle at .08%. They thought it cattle one was .05%. They looked it up and said cattle is .05% and the one for sheep and goats is .08% and I should use that. You mention the cattle one in your post. Should I just get that? I will also be talking to the people at the store too so maybe they can help too.
I will be doing total clean out of coop also. Right now I use DE. Can I stick with that while using ivomec on birds or should I get "stronger" type of dust for the coop, and what if so?
Sorry, so many questions. I will be going to store tomorrow so want to know everything I will need to pick up.
Thank you again!

 

[Gldnrose]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/860447/lice-mites-or-warning-gross-pictures-any-help-appreciated

Here's the link to the thread.....

I'm not sure what it is.... The scab place looks more like a wound rather than lice/mite damage that I have seen before. Hope someone knows more than we do!

Hi. Yes I agree about it looking like a wound. I think on two of the hens it "cracked" while laying an egg. They all have that "spot" of scabbiness and loss of skirt feathers. She is the worst as far as feather loss goes, and of course it looked even more worse because I had just washed her back end. On the other hens you cant even tell there is feather loss unless you move some skirt feathers then you see the bald patches. Or is this normal???? Pretty sure I never noticed so much skin in that area before.

I'm driving myself crazy, lol
At this point I am going to do the ivomec. I try not to use any strong stuff on them, but I'm stumped at this point. Hopefully more folks will look and give me their opinions also.
Thanks for your help.