[chrismahon]

Hi Dyedinthewool. Now know for certain what that 'dust' is on the rear end feathers. NORTHERN FOWL MITE. Reason we know is because our pet Buff Orpington Cockerel has been a bit down recently and doing a lot of preening. Cockerels seem prone to it in preference to hens, probably because they have so much longer feathers. Very close inspection with a strong torch and magnifying glass revealed thousnads of tiny mite, about half a dozen to a pin head, crawling over scabs on the skin. They eat the skin to get to the meal of flesh underneath. Recognised the dusty feathers from your photograph. We've given him Frontline spray at 3 squirts per Kg body weight. His bed is full of them this morning -dead! Problem is they hide under the scabs, so he might need more treatment like a medicated shampoo and cream on the scabs.

It is difficult to spot and initially looks like a dirty bum. Of course he doesn't like us messing with his feathers so it wasn't until he was really run down we could have a good look, despite his squeals of pain. He seems better this morning but it can be fatal. Huge scabs on him though, over his entire bum and right round his hackles.

They get very dehydrated, which would explain why a squashy crop results, drinking a lot of water. Suprised the vet didn't spot it, but you went in for a crop problem.

We have several with 'pendulous crops' but only one has resulted in a fungal problem. It was so far advanced when we spotted it, so after a month of treatment and no improvement, even after force feeding we pts.

[dyedinthewool]

Hi Dyedinthewool. Now know for certain what that 'dust' is on the rear end feathers. NORTHERN FOWL MITE. Reason we know is because our pet Buff Orpington Cockerel has been a bit down recently and doing a lot of preening. Cockerels seem prone to it in preference to hens, probably because they have so much longer feathers. Very close inspection with a strong torch and magnifying glass revealed thousnads of tiny mite, about half a dozen to a pin head, crawling over scabs on the skin. They eat the skin to get to the meal of flesh underneath. Recognised the dusty feathers from your photograph. We've given him Frontline spray at 3 squirts per Kg body weight. His bed is full of them this morning -dead! Problem is they hide under the scabs, so he might need more treatment like a medicated shampoo and cream on the scabs.

It is difficult to spot and initially looks like a dirty bum. Of course he doesn't like us messing with his feathers so it wasn't until he was really run down we could have a good look, despite his squeals of pain. He seems better this morning but it can be fatal. Huge scabs on him though, over his entire bum and right round his hackles.

They get very dehydrated, which would explain why a squashy crop results, drinking a lot of water. Suprised the vet didn't spot it, but you went in for a crop problem.

We have several with 'pendulous crops' but only one has resulted in a fungal problem. It was so far advanced when we spotted it, so after a month of treatment and no improvement, even after force feeding we pts.

Hi Chris,

You're right i've found this link on the net after reading your post, it has a pic of exactly what my henny's had.  Seems louse dusting kills the little **ggers so NOT RED MITE...  I did get some Harkamectin to use but how many drops per bird and how long is the withdrawal time for the eggs. Or is Frontline better to use and is it only on prescription??

Re 'Pendulous Crop,
It hasn't improved as I hoped - and it seems cruel to not give her enough to eat so i think tomorrow I will have to dispatch her sad though i'll be.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=northern+fowl+mites+on+chickens&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CHQQFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpoultrykeeperforum.com%2Fviewtopic.php%3Ff%3D7%26t%3D3246%26start%3D10&ei=HUGgT7jNCKPd4QST0pmyAw&usg=AFQjCNFs1USQeonc4CEJra8aIx8G9WbQTg

[funkyfish]

Eprinex pour on (for cattle and used off licence) is one of the only things that kills NF mite and also does all the worms. 7day egg withdrawal . Dose : 0.2ml for average sized birds and 0.4 ml for large breeds. Apply to skin on back of head so can't preen it off.

Not too expensive from any large animal vets. You may have to sign Abbott licence form but can usenit on cascade as nothing licenced to treat tape worm or NF mite in poultry.

[chrismahon]

Problem is Dyedinthewool you have to know what it is before you can search for it! Your extract is from the forum I spend most time on. So ordinary louse powder will treat it? We took no chances with our pet and hit them hard. Frontline is the most powerful stuff we use and the spray has to be vet prescribed. You can get 'spot-on' without prescription but I have heard of that dose killing chickens. The minimum for a cat is 6 pump sprays per Kg, We use only 3 sprays per Kg on the chickens with no fatalities yet. No egg withdrawal says my vet.

Crop problem, if it is fungal is very difficult to cure. We spent nearly £100 on Isabella before giving up. Lesson learned there.

[dyedinthewool]

Eprinex pour on (for cattle and used off licence) is one of the only things that kills NF mite and also does all the worms. 7day egg withdrawal . Dose : 0.2ml for average sized birds and 0.4 ml for large breeds. Apply to skin on back of head so can't preen it off.

Not too expensive from any large animal vets. You may have to sign Abbott licence form but can usenit on cascade as nothing licenced to treat tape worm or NF mite in poultry.

I do have Eprinex and normally use it when the hens have stopped laying in the Autum and then again in the early Spring before they start laying (so i don't lose egg production) and until they had this attack of NF mite all was fine.

Problem is Dyedinthewool you have to know what it is before you can search for it! Your extract is from the forum I spend most time on. So ordinary louse powder will treat it? We took no chances with our pet and hit them hard. Frontline is the most powerful stuff we use and the spray has to be vet prescribed. You can get 'spot-on' without prescription but I have heard of that dose killing chickens. The minimum for a cat is 6 pump sprays per Kg, We use only 3 sprays per Kg on the chickens with no fatalities yet. No egg withdrawal says my vet.

Crop problem, if it is fungal is very difficult to cure. We spent nearly £100 on Isabella before giving up. Lesson learned there.

Yes quite true I had read about NF but didn't imagine that thats what the henny's had.  I think i'll get the spray from my vet as NO egg withdrawal.  I have dusted them again tonight until I can get to the vets.

Dispatched my other henny earlier - kept telling her I was sorry but it was for the best.  Never good when you have to do the deed...

Thank you all for your imputs it has really helped me to sort out what to do and more importantly what the infestation was.

[Mammyshaz]

Glad you found the problem.  It's always worrying not knowing what the cause is to even try treatments.
After reading this I will keep the NFM symptoms in my head for future observations with my girls. Thanks for sharing.

[dyedinthewool]

Hi,

Vet didn't have Frontline - but had Effipro said it did the same thing...?  Very expensive £20 odd for 250ml....!  Working on Chrismahon's ratio - think henny's weighed about 2kilo's for the Orpingtons and 1kg for the smaller hens.  Sprayed bums, belly's, backs and under wings.  Not much left of the 250ml after doing eight hens and one cockeral. (Not that I begrudge the henny's the cost to get them better) just thought it cost alot...

Hopefully there will be alot of dead NFM tomorrow and NO dead hens...just henny's feeling better

[funkyfish]

Hi glad you have sorted problem!  Will remember the dose of frontline as it's handy stuff! Just don't   Use it on rodents, they keel over and die.

[chrismahon]

Hi Dyedinthewool. Frontline costs about the same. Pleased to say our pet cockerel Bottom (who weighs 6Kg so loads of spray) has perked up no end and is back to himself. About a month back he started 'soil bathing' in his bed. That must have been the start of the infestation. Anyway, the scabs are now falling off revealing clean new skin underneath. His feathers hurt at the back and I wonder if they have burrowed into the quills. Not to worry, the spray will kill the mites hiding in there I hope.