How to de-mite a hen with a problem...

[jessmorris]

Hello,
my old english game has a small prolapse. She is bright and laying but I have separated her, put her on a small amount of corn only and am keeping her in the dark (ish) and quiet to stop her laying and hopefully allow her prolapse to heal. She may also lose some weight.
She also has northen fowl mite which being near her vent I don't feel I can treat with Permethrin powder as its bound to get onto the bare flesh. Any ideas? Shall I Frontline her with mite treatment for caged birds? incidentally what's the Frontline spray people speak of? The only Frontline I know is an organophosphate(?) treatment for dogs (there is a bird version too) which you dab on their necks and it spreads over their skin to kill mites, fleas, ticks etc. You have to weigh the bird and apportion drops accordingly.
best wishes,
Claire
ps how do I attach pics to a message?

[RichmondHens]

Never had Northern Fowl mite so don't know if conventional louse powder works on that. I use a natural tea tree oil louse powder which works for lice and is safe to use around any exposed flesh. Several of my hens have had treading injuries from time to time from the cocks but I've happily used the louse powder on them with no ill effect. I don't use Frontline for reasons I have stated at great length on here in the past and won't go into now but others on here do so may be able to advise. Is it a bad prolapse? The chemicals in Frontline won't be any kinder than Permethrin so my instinct would be to say don't use it, but that's my opinion. Others may disagree.

[jessmorris]

It not as bad as some prolapses I've seen on Google - its basically a ring of protuding tissue around her vent and she lays bloody eggs. Thanks for your advice.
Jess

[Bramble-Poultry]

As richmond says, theres a lot of discussion on here about Frontline, and richmond and i agree to differ as it were. However, on this point i actually stand with richmond. i would not put any chemical on exposed skin regardless of what it states. My god Sally - we agree on mite control! must be a blue moon!!

Anyways, the frontline i speak of is Frontline yo get from the vets for flea control in dogs and cats EXCEPT - and here is the vital point, it must be the kitten and puppy SPRAY ON not the spot on as spot on does not work.

As for the mite, you can use most bird product mite sprays but if its well established it will take some time to treat. You could go "head on" with it and give her a bath in warm water and wash her with Kitten flea shampoo. yes i know it will take the sheen from her feathers for a week or so, however, the flea shampoo will start on the mite straight away.

Daft as it sound, most (theres always an exception) chickens like a bath and find standing in water (no deeper than their shoulder) calming. Just keep an eye on those wings as if she starts flapping you are gonna get very very wet. Bath her and lather her up, rinse in fresh water then either dry her in a drying cabinet if yo uare lucky to have one, or towel dry and then use a hair drier on the rest. Once washed and dry, use a barrier mite powder afterwards (usually the next day) to mop up any stragglers.

Feed her up on live bio yoghurt, mealworms and corn to boost her immune system and give her the energy to recouperate.

[RichmondHens]

As richmond says, theres a lot of discussion on here about Frontline, and richmond and i agree to differ as it were. However, on this point i actually stand with richmond. i would not put any chemical on exposed skin regardless of what it states. My god Sally - we agree on mite control! must be a blue moon!!

A.

LOL I nearly fainted!! :

[frias]

Re the prolapse. One of the hen rescues ( I can't remember which one) said to use Hemorrhoid cream.

[jessmorris]

Haemarrhoid cream for hen prolapse

mm, not sure I've spelt that right. a lot of people recommend this cream but some people say its excatly the wrong thing to use - something to do with the prolapse needing a good blood supply and not being in the least like a haemmarrhoid....I'll not use it i think. She's much better today, laid a nice white egg and escaped from her solitary confinement to join her pals. I'll check her over tomoz and see how she looks..................

[frias]

Not had to treat a prolapse but have found the info on Little hen Rescue under medical care. They claim to have 100% success with Hemorroid cream. Glad your hen is better anyway.