[chrismahon]

100ml bottle of Frontline spray is £18 I think. Shelf life was about 18 months. Well we have used the first bottle for 18 months and it's still just as effective, that's what we used on our Bottom for the NFM.

[landroverroy]

A very effective remedy for lice and mites is Ivomec pour on, as used for cattle.
If you don't know any cattle owners to get some off, you may be able to buy some off your vet. A 5ml syringe full will do loads of hens and not cost anything like Frontline. I usually dilute it 10x with water, and apply about 1ml/bird, a drop at a time.  I usually start at the head and neck and then go down the back, parting the feathers so it goes straight onto the skin. If you have scaly leg (or rather your birds have) then put a few drops on each leg/foot as well.
If you cannot get any Ivomec (or similar) Then Spot On, for cattle is also good. You can buy from agricultural stores, but tell them it's for cattle or sheep, don't mention poultry. You can apply this undiluted, but only about 5 drops/bird.

[ellied]

I have 8 hens and 6 of them appear to have the same thing - 2 of which are particularly bad with more than just the base of the tail bald, these are a Black Rock and a Bluebelle and they're the 2 hardest to catch too   One of the 8 has also been laying a soft shelled egg for 2 months or so despite my ensuring ad lib access to oyster shell grit - it seems to explode on landing and I have been concerned at the prospect of egg attacks tho fortunately the proper shelled ones appear safe from pecking.  I am getting 6-7 good eggs a day mind so they're not at deaths door, just embarrassing to look at and not know what to do next

I have tried diatom on birds, diatom in the dustbath and in the coop including nest boxes where I know they'll sit in it, red mite powder/spray, anti-peck spray, adding more fresh food, increasing/decreasing the corn ration in case it was too heating, you name it all to no effect. 

This thread is great timing - I have some Spot On pour on for cattle/sheep/lambs left that I've used on the ponies for lice for years but I'd never thought of it for the chooks.  Issue one was getting 5 drops on each bird so I hope none are overdosed  

Assuming success, is there a withdrawal period where eggs should not be sold/used by me?  And when should any improvement be visible - do new quills start appearing quite fast?

Hope I've not poisoned any of them by tomorrow, it's been a bad time recently and I could do without feeling guilty but I am at my wits end what to try next so I've just leapt in to do something   I'm so glad it's not just my hens tho.. 

[northfifeduckling]

well, I'll be watching this thread, Ellie .....