Scaly leg mites, continued

[thegawd]

PAJenn dont you have another method of treating mites or was that something else... where you introduce another bug into the coop that eats them and then consequently dies once theres nothing left for them to eat? I remember PAJoel doing a write up on PSO about it...

[Jaye]

This is PAJenn's blog that talks about predatory mites - http://growingagoodlife.com/poultry/str ... -scimitus/
These predatory mites work for red poultry mites but are not cold tolerant, so wrong time of year for them to be effective. I don't know if they work on scaly leg mites.

[thegawd]

Thanks Jaye! ya thats some great info right there!

[Jaye]

Hoping for some tips on getting the birds follow-up Ivermectin application done by myself. Day 5 after the first dose is tomorrow. Hubby can't help with this application, since he still has to be in the face-down position most all the time until his follow-up appointment with the eye surgeon on Monday. Even if he could be face-up for the time it would take to help, he's still vision-impaired.
I have a head light, and plan to get it done after lights-out, but don't know how I'm going to manage holing and finding skin on the back of their necks and applying the required number of drops to each bird. Any suggestions? I was thinking of asking my neighbour to help, but they have no experience holding a chicken, which could prove problematic.

[ross]

Get yourself a orange cone from dollar store or hardware store that fits your bird cut end off for head , drill hole other end to hang on nail . Drop bird in , pull head thru by beak & apply on neck .

[Jaye]

Thanks, Ross - that makes sense. I will find me a cone and try that. Don't they freak out though? How do I get them out of the cone once I've finished applying? While we are on the subject of upside-down birds, you mentioned in the chicken pedicure thread to hold them upside down by the feet/legs to trim their nails. This may be a stupid question, but how to you put them back upright afterwards? Do you support their back and flip them?

[PAJenn]

Sorry gang, I missed your request for my article on mites. I clearly neglected to click the "follow thread" button.

[Jaye]

PAJenn, do you know if these predator mites would would work for scaly leg mites, assuming that the temperature was conducive?

[ross]

Just grab um by feet , pull them out of cone , push on chest to upright & let go at same time . They'll fly down . When you pick them up by both legs they will flutter & try to lift head up but just gently push down . Like most animals if upside down or on back they relax & settle . I find it easiest on them & yourself . Practice grabbing legs & hold upside down a few times before placing in cones . Luck

[Jaye]

Thanks, Ross. Will do!