My neighbor just called me, she found yellowy colored things on her chickens butt and they is what looks like eggs on the shaft of the feathers. She has americuana*sp and NH reds. I don't want to go over and look at them, I am itchy just thinking about them. I read that Adams flea shampoo is good. And you can use a dip too is that the Adams Plus Pyrethrin Dip for Dogs & Cats????
I told her I would post and find out what others do, she does not do computers. From just reading a few things on the parasites they are very common and a fact of keeping poultry..
So what should she do? I told her she would have to clean out the entire house, nestboxes and all. Should she dip or shampoo and bomb the empty house and sprinkle seven around? What about her eggs? Can she still eat them, if not how long till she can?
Any idea would help.
MITES! Or maybe LICE!
Can't tell you how to cure them but it sure sounds like lice to me! Yuck!
MollyD
Yup, especially if there are a lot on their bottoms under the vent. The lice have dark brown bellies from blood. I've dealt with this before. What I do is I give everyone a bath in some sort of insecticide that is okayed for livestock, then clean out and spray the house. Then I mix new shavings with DE. It is extensive, but worth it: YUCK!
... adn they spread in the nesting boxes and the roosts and when the chickens breed...
also, she needs to be sure they have places to take dust baths, that helps prevent it... sand, wood ashes, anything loose she can put out for them...
might decrease egg production, but since they are not internal parasties they won' tget inside the eggs.... EEEEWWWWWW!!!!!
smart of you NOT to go over and help her. you are a good friend for posting for her, wish her luck from us!
Thanks all! She is off to find Adams dip, spray and dust! It will be itchy weekend for her!
We use large plastic containers (like sweater boxes) that you can buy at walmart or target and fill them with diatomaceous earth for the chickens to take dust baths in. The DE is a superfine microscopic particulate material with sharp edges that will kill mites and lice but does not hurt the chickens at all. It is a great way to get rid of pests without the introduction of pesticides like Adams. We currently have 2 flocks of about 500 total rare and heritage chickens and they haven't got mites since we started this. A lot easier than dipping and tearing apart our chicken houses! Did that once and won't do it again.
If you use the DE (diotamceous earth) It MUST be food grade!
You are right of course. It has to be food grade fossil flour. Used it for years. Works great.
dh uses sevin which is a garden pesticide. i can't use it i have to stay out of everything for about 3-4 days after cuz i'm highly allergic to it. i went into anifalactic shock the first time i used it due to chemical skin reaction,lol but it works fast and great if u use a dust mask and not alergic. i had to learn not to play with the chooks when they had it on while i had shorts and a t-shirt on.
i personally use food grade DE or adams flea and tick spray in the blue bottle. adam's spray kills the fastest, then sevin does and DE takes longer. of couse de is the safest it is not a pesticide it is all natural.
I read in a post on another site that if sevin dust is used the eggs should not be eaten for a week or two. Anyone else agree with that?
yep cuz it is a pesticide i wait 10-14 days for anything that says that.