The Poultry Keeper

land of my feathers · Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 18 Location: West Midlands

I'm in a dilema, looking for your advice please. As some of you will have read, I lost 2 out of my 3 chickens a couple of weeks ago.

The plan was to take my son to the Domestic Fowl Trust on Friday to get a couple of replacements (nice day out for the two of us as its my son's 2nd birthday on Sunday).

However, I've just found 'grey' mites in my coop - and my one remaining girl is suffering. Her comb is pale, and shes lost a few feathers on her head.

I've only been able to Poultry Shield so far. Big scrub out, blowtorch and PS session tomorrow. Got to try and get some Diatom as well.

Question is, do I get the new girls? Common sense says of course not - can't bring them into an 'infested' coop.

Then I started to worry about Xena taking all of the flak from the mites as I battle with them, so I'm wondering if it is best to get the new girls to take the pressure off Xena. Sounds terrible, 'inflicting' mites on the new girls as I clean the coop over & over during the next few weeks - but hopefully you can see where I'm coming from.

Any opinions & comments will be much appreciated. I'm currently leaning towards not getting the new girls, so I can spare them the suffering. Maybe I can use a temporary cardboard box under cover to save Xena the worst.

She's currently sleeping in the nest box. That may be to avoid mites at the top of the coop. No eggs of course.

Oh well, the Mite Fight starts here.

Lisa · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject:

Personally I'd wait until you are mite free (or as mite free as you can be) on the grounds that your lone chook might be a bit under the weather from fighting off the mites to deal with new feathered interloppers in the coop. But that's just my thoughts...

Best of luck with the mite fight Twisted Evil

I got them for the first time last year and thought I'd got rid of them... but they're back Evil or Very Mad

Haven't tried the blow torch... yet... though I feel some mite toasting coming on this weekend Twisted Evil

Bhindi · Posted: Wed Jun 20, 2007 10:26 pm Post subject:

Yes Ive got opinons.. probably the wrong one i'm afraid. Steer clear of the Domestic fowl trust. I have NEVER heard anyone say anything good about it. Twice on motorbike rides I've called in to get sundries, and was not much impressed, but people who talk about walking around the back where the chooks, ducks are etc, all say how atrociously kept they all are and even more surprising was they say they all saw dead rats left lying around.

Not so very far away is the place where the forum members meet up anually and though I've not visited I would reckon you wont find a finer place to purchase chooks from... http://www.poultrypark.com/index.html

Sorry to put a dampner on your planned day out!

land of my feathers · Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 18 Location: West Midlands

Thanks guys. I've decided to wait (just feel sorry for poor Xena).

Just cleaned out, blowtorched (I actually used a Weed Wacker, which was useful) and PS'd the coop. Picked Xena up, and the only mites I could see were by her neck - none on her body. Must be Vampire Mites.

I've locked Xena out of the coop of now and have left the roof open (with an umbrella) hoping that they won't like the cold air.

Thanks for the DFT advice as well. Always happy to take recommendations / avoid negative experiences. Don't ever buy a kitchen from Moben Sad

Hadn't found the Poultry Park on the web, I'll have a look into them. As I'm up in Halesowen, it'll be a bit further south - but not too far at all.
Look forward to the annual get together as well Smile

Day out is on hold for now. Looks like I'll re-schedule one for the Poultry Park in a couple of week time.

NannyP · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:56 am Post subject:

Definately get some Diatom from here

http://www.sprcentre.co.uk

It's really good stuff, and used in nest boxes and on the floor and in food is a great way to keep mite at bay once you've hit them with everything.

Enjoy Poultry Park Very Happy

Lisa · Posted: Thu Jun 21, 2007 2:30 pm Post subject:

I totally agree - go to Poultry Park instead Smile

land of my feathers · Joined: 09 Jan 2007 Posts: 18 Location: West Midlands

Can I ask a 'behaviour' question related to this?

I've been studiously cleaning, spraying Poultry Shield, blowtorching and sprinkling Diatom in the coop, and rubbing it into Xena's feathers.
I think I'm making progress - haven't seen any mites in the last 2 days (sneaky bu&&ers that they are).

Problem is, Xena's comb is still pale, she's not laying and she is spending all of her time in the nest box. She only seems to come out if I give her a nudge. When she does come out she's eating & drinking happily - especially the Strawberries & Cauilflower that I've put out for her.

However, as I've mentioned elsewhere, I suddenly lost 2 of my 3 girls about 3 weeks ago - so Xena is all on her own.

She stopped laying a week or so ago - I think because of the mites. As she was stationed in the nest box, I first thought that she'd gone broody ('starting a new flock') as she was alone. Difficult to be broody when you're not laying - and there are no cocks around...

I'm concerned that she won't leave the nest box, isn't laying & is still pale.

Do you think she's still being affected by the mites / or could she be 'lonely' having lost her mates?

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2495 Location: South Cumbria

chickens are by nature flock birds she will be lonely I'm sure, it might also take a while to get her back into good condition Smile

kated · Joined: 01 Nov 2006 Posts: 1851 Location: norfolk

Can you up the protein in Xena's diet for a bit L of my F? Worms are good but (Sssh - looks round for anyone listening) meat scraps in moderation are greatly appreciated after mites have been busy. The only stuff I have found which seems to get rid of mites for extended periods is Ficam W. Toxic stuff, but it works. I use diatom puffer directly on the chicken as well which gets the mites of them.

P S I bought a kitchen from Moben Sad

Henwife · Joined: 31 Jan 2006 Posts: 3245 Location: Monmouthshire

Treat Xena with cat Frontline spot on as it means any of the little bloodsuckers will poison themselves. As you've only got the one bird, this is the cheapest way to deal with her. I have lots, so a 250ml bottle of noromectin (needs prescription) is worth the cost. As she's not laying, you don't have to worry about egg withdrawal & I presume it's only a few drops of the stuff needed, but somebody here will probably tell you how much they use.

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2495 Location: South Cumbria

I was told 1 drop under each wing with my silkies not sure whether I had cat or dog vet gave me it as he had no spray on in stock