The New Zealand Thread

[Marisa14]

Our first were a black and white Orpington (daisy & Lexie, both still with us) and a GLW & SLW both wyandottes had issues and being very new to chicken keeping I was too slow at noticing they were sick!
So, down to 2 I got a blue & lavender Orpington (Thelma & Loise ) off someone I knew that was breeding herself and otherwise I’d be waiting over 6 months from a breeder.

I feel for you having to dispatch one yourself! Anytime I gave a sick chicjen it’s off to the vet we go! I have found a vet now in Hamilton that specialises in chickens as our local vet is pretty useless in that area!
So, will go straight there next time I need to!

 

[Marisa14]

Agreed. Our first four were 3 shavers and a silkie raised from week olds. Our silkie helped us through a few hatches to get us up to 6 and we sold\gave away the extra chicks. Those three all died around 3 years old of various production breed related issues unfortunately. We still have our silkie girl. She's only 4, but the oldest in our flock.

It's very brutal when they're your babies, but I had to dispatch one of our girls myself due to her falling ill over a lockdown. She just wasnt improving and I didnt want her suffering.

We're getting through our first hatch from our own roo. We're about a week in the incubator with 11 healthy embryos. Gonna be tricky deciding the culls from this hatch once they get up to size. We already have 3 roos and 3 turkey jakes XD, so we're full up on boys for now.

OMG! I feel for you having to do that to one of your babies!

How exciting for you! Keep me updated with the hatching!

 

[Marisa14]

Are these Mites or Lice?
Does anyone have any ideas what these bugs are? To me, they look like mites but I haven’t got a single one in the coop.
I didn’t a week ago when I 1st noticed them either!!
I have been dosing her with ivomectin weekly for 2 weeks now. Last Wednesday I put some de-mite powder on the feather shafts at the same time as I gave her Ivomec but was told the dusting was a bit too harsh for her skin so I stopped.

She has been getting better abd 2 days ago when I checked her over I could only see the odd one crawling around and last night I noticed her comb was very pale and she wasn’t moving around much

 

[Chookwagn]

Do you happen to know of a source of brown leghorns in the South Island?

I only have blue, black, Splash and cuckoo coloured leghorns

There is a guy in southland that sells eggs but he won't ship and I always seem to be down there a little late in the year.... I missed out again this year

 

[Chookwagn]

Are these Mites or Lice?
Does anyone have any ideas what these bugs are? To me, they look like mites but I haven’t got a single one in the coop.
I didn’t a week ago when I 1st noticed them either!!
I have been dosing her with ivomectin weekly for 2 weeks now. Last Wednesday I put some de-mite powder on the feather shafts at the same time as I gave her Ivomec but was told the dusting was a bit too harsh for her skin so I stopped.

She has been getting better abd 2 days ago when I checked her over I could only see the odd one crawling around and last night I noticed her comb was very pale and she wasn’t moving around much

Is she moulting as well?

They seem to shed a lot of what looks like flakey skin when their new feathers come in.

But I would carry on dosing for mites and lice too.

I have big wars with mites! Hate them with a passion

 

[Marisa14]

Is she moulting as well?

They seem to shed a lot of what looks like flakey skin when their new feathers come in.

But I would carry on dosing for mites and lice too.

I have big wars with mites! Hate them with a passion

Yes, she is moulting.

Yes, I have dosed her again today and cleaned out the coop again aswell. Still no mites to be seen!

I had a major infestation a few years ago (my neighbour had chickens right next to mine and I’m convinced they climbed the fence!! )
I use poultry safeguard and de-mite powder from appletons (chooks.co.nz) and haven’t had an issue since

 

[Lizzy733]

Are these Mites or Lice?
Does anyone have any ideas what these bugs are? To me, they look like mites but I haven’t got a single one in the coop.
I didn’t a week ago when I 1st noticed them either!!
I have been dosing her with ivomectin weekly for 2 weeks now. Last Wednesday I put some de-mite powder on the feather shafts at the same time as I gave her Ivomec but was told the dusting was a bit too harsh for her skin so I stopped.

She has been getting better abd 2 days ago when I checked her over I could only see the odd one crawling around and last night I noticed her comb was very pale and she wasn’t moving around much

Quite the infestation!

The paleness will be anemia. It could be exclusively from the mites\lice, but may be internal too.

I recently had one similar 'passed' to me for rehabilitation about a month ago. I started with a dog flea dip bath, which didnt do much. Blow dried her thoroughly, then used food grade diatomaceous earth and powdered her heavily everywhere, heaping it on by the handfuls and rubbing into the base of the feathers while keeping her in isolation. 2 days later and she was parasite clear.

Notes when using DE - your bird needs to be bone dry. DE doesn't really work wet. It is a fine powder and there are comments about skin and respiratory concerns, but honestly, I believe the benefits outweigh the negatives here and it works quickly, so no need for prolonged exposure. I tend to use it when mite issues crop up. Generally ends up being my super-broody not taking care of herself properly. In that instance, I dust the nest heavily and its fine to use on hatching eggs too.

For the anemia, I'd give her a bit of a vitamin boost with some acv in the water or, preferably, polyaid. How is her attitude and general health? The girl I was passed was anemic, but eating and behaving normally otherwise and she reddened back up within a week or two after treatment and a bit of meat bird crumble. - she had the white mites. I havent had any dark ones crop up. Is anyone else infested?

 

[Chookwagn]

@JaeG
@Silverwulfess
@The Kooky Kiwi

 

[Marisa14]

Quite the infestation!

The paleness will be anemia. It could be exclusively from the mites\lice, but may be internal too.

I recently had one similar 'passed' to me for rehabilitation about a month ago. I started with a dog flea dip bath, which didnt do much. Blow dried her thoroughly, then used food grade diatomaceous earth and powdered her heavily everywhere, heaping it on by the handfuls and rubbing into the base of the feathers while keeping her in isolation. 2 days later and she was parasite clear.

Notes when using DE - your bird needs to be bone dry. DE doesn't really work wet. It is a fine powder and there are comments about skin and respiratory concerns, but honestly, I believe the benefits outweigh the negatives here and it works quickly, so no need for prolonged exposure. I tend to use it when mite issues crop up. Generally ends up being my super-broody not taking care of herself properly. In that instance, I dust the nest heavily and its fine to use on hatching eggs too.

For the anemia, I'd give her a bit of a vitamin boost with some acv in the water or, preferably, polyaid. How is her attitude and general health? The girl I was passed was anemic, but eating and behaving normally otherwise and she reddened back up within a week or two after treatment and a bit of meat bird crumble. - she had the white mites. I havent had any dark ones crop up. Is anyone else infested?

OMG! So helpful!! I put some DE on her tonight when we got in from work I agree with you about the positives outweigh the negatives. It seemed to work when we did it a week ago and I’m wondering if the eggs have hatched and that’s why it’s gotten bad again!

I have been giving her electrolytes which I made up myself and always gave on gand for when any of my girls get sick. I’ve got some poultry Nutri-max that is for sick and lethargic birds.
And I got some mite rescue remedy with vitamins etc in which is mixed up in their water as we speak. They had done a few days ago too.

She isn’t eating as much today but is acting normal-ish. I just think she is mighty uncomfortable with the mites/lice crawling on her! She is eating just not at her usual rate.

No one else has any. Lexie, my white girl (who looks terrible at the mo on account of moulting!) had a couple but the ivomectin took care of them snd she’s all good now!

 

[TheFatBlueCat]

I only have blue, black, Splash and cuckoo coloured leghorns

There is a guy in southland that sells eggs but he won't ship and I always seem to be down there a little late in the year.... I missed out again this year

Oooooh I could be keen on those colours! I have 1 mottled leghorn hen at the moment.