Ear Mites?

[birdlady79]

Hi, all 5 of my pullets are scratching at ears and twitching their heads..... Weigh loss is apperant in 1.... Yesterday I wormed with Safeguard and treated ears using peroxide and vegetable oil. I did not see any gunk in ears...then dusted with seven...

Today they are still scratching ears and twitching heads.... I'm using process of elimination..... Either they still have mites, ear infection, or maybe fungal infection? Any ideas?

 

[Michael Apple]

Hi, all 5 of my pullets are scratching at ears and twitching their heads..... Weigh loss is apperant in 1.... Yesterday I wormed with Safeguard and treated ears using peroxide and vegetable oil. I did not see any gunk in ears...then dusted with seven...

Today they are still scratching ears and twitching heads.... I'm using process of elimination..... Either they still have mites, ear infection, or maybe fungal infection? Any ideas?

They might be shaking their heads still due to the peroxide and vegetable oil in their ears. How much did you apply to the ear and how did you apply it? Why did you use that concoction?

If you truly suspect mites, and you see no cheesy junk in the ears, I would suggest Mitex in the 1/2 oz bottle made by Happy Jack : http://www.flemingoutdoors.com/mitex12oz.html

All it takes is one small drop for each ear.

 

[birdlady79]

They might be shaking their heads still due to the peroxide and vegetable oil in their ears. How much did you apply to the ear and how did you apply it? Why did you use that concoction?

If you truly suspect mites, and you see no cheesy junk in the ears, I would suggest Mitex in the 1/2 oz bottle made by Happy Jack : http://www.flemingoutdoors.com/mitex12oz.html

All it takes is one small drop for each ear.

I read in another thread where you could use a drop of peroxide then wipe dry, then add a drop of veg oil and it would smother the mites.... I did not see any mites or gunk in ears .... But they were scratching bf and shaking heads bf I did that... ... I truly don't know what I suspect.... Weight loss in 1 would be the only other symptom... And occasional sneezing but that's stopped .... No runny nose, no wheezing, no nasty eyes....they just started with the scratching ear and shaking heads this week....

 

[birdlady79]

They might be shaking their heads still due to the peroxide and vegetable oil in their ears. How much did you apply to the ear and how did you apply it? Why did you use that concoction?

If you truly suspect mites, and you see no cheesy junk in the ears, I would suggest Mitex in the 1/2 oz bottle made by Happy Jack : http://www.flemingoutdoors.com/mitex12oz.html

All it takes is one small drop for each ear.

I'll get some Mitex ... Thank you

 

[Michael Apple]

You're welcome. Peroxide can help clean out an infection, but I wouldn't recommend it with vegetable oil for ear mites. With ear infections, triple antibiotic ointment is used once the gunk, loosened by peroxide, is removed. So long as you don't see irritation, redness, yellow/white exudate in the ear, it isn't infected. Check the birds over their bodies for mites that could be crawling around to and fro. My sight is getting worse so I have to use glasses and a headlamp to inspect properly between the feathers. Do it at night when they are all relaxed on the roost.

 

[birdlady79]

You're welcome. Peroxide can help clean out an infection, but I wouldn't recommend it with vegetable oil for ear mites. With ear infections, triple antibiotic ointment is used once the gunk, loosened by peroxide, is removed. So long as you don't see irritation, redness, yellow/white exudate in the ear, it isn't infected. Check the birds over their bodies for mites that could be crawling around to and fro. My sight is getting worse so I have to use glasses and a headlamp to inspect properly between the feathers. Do it at night when they are all relaxed on the roost.

Thank you.. I will check them again tonight... I didn't see any when dusting yesterday but I'll check again,,.. I use sand in coop, do you have to remove sand to treat coop? I did the roost and corners last week with Seven.... Also would Knats make them shake their heads? It's really hot here and the Knats are out bad, they get in your face. It's so irritating.

 

[Michael Apple]

Thank you.. I will check them again tonight... I didn't see any when dusting yesterday but I'll check again,,.. I use sand in coop, do you have to remove sand to treat coop? I did the roost and corners last week with Seven.... Also would Knats make them shake their heads? It's really hot here and the Knats are out bad, they get in your face. It's so irritating.

I have sand in my chicken yards but the coops are 1/2" plywood floors. TN is quite humid compared to Northern California near the coast. Mosquitos can be pretty annoying to chickens. Let me bring someone here who is familiar with Southern climates. Sevin comes in a powder and now a spray. Which one do you use?

 

[birdlady79]

I have sand in my chicken yards but the coops are 1/2" plywood floors. TN is quite humid compared to Northern California near the coast. Mosquitos can be pretty annoying to chickens. Let me bring someone here who is familiar with Southern climates. Sevin comes in a powder and now a spray. Which one do you use?

Very humid!! I have been using powder... I don't use any in my run bc it's a tractor and we move it weekly.... Mosq, Knats, and flys are horrible here.... My Martins help some w the flying bugs....