[splash101]

Is there an egg withdrawal period when using frontline?

Also, does anyone use ivermectin drops and is there a withdrawal period for that also.
I've been told that its suitable for Chickens and there is "possibly / most likely" a withdrawal period but they couldnt tell me how long for

I dont need any yet but weighing up options for when I do.

Many thanks knowledgeable ones.

[joyfull]

take a look at this page

[splash101]

Thanks joyfull, that was the info i needed.

[ANHBUC]

I had a consultation with my vet recently in readiness for any pests on my chickens.  He explained that nothing has been licensed for poultry but that he could prescribe Frontline spray.  He advised an egg withdrawal of 4 weeks. 

It is not a cheap option either buying the spray or having a long egg withdrawal period.  It would be nice to think that more medicines would be licensed for poultry but I can't see that happening as it probably wouldn't make any money for the Pharmaceutical Companies.   

[splash101]

I feel a bit misled now from the vendor because i specifically asked them if the Ivermectin was suitable for chickens, to which she replied yes absolutely. (failed to mention it wasnt licensed for poultry)
Thinking about though, she was a vendor, so probably just wanted to make a sale.
I wonder if I hadn't asked about the egg withdrawal, would she have mentioned it?.

I didnt buy it because she couldnt advise on the withdrawal period.

There does seem to be a gap in the market.

I wonder what large scale poultry farmers do.

[ANHBUC]

I don't know.  They replace them when they are still young so they probably treat the accommodation each time they are changing stock. 

[joyfull]

that is exactly what they do plus the fact that most are kept inside for all of their short lives so never have any contact with any wild birds to catch them.

[ANHBUC]

I remember watching that "H*ppy H*ns" undercover video on here and on there they said the place was overrun with redmite!   

[Elvira]

I have tried Ivermectin as someone recommended trying it for scaley leg - apparently it worked on their hens (a miracle!).  The packaging shows it is licensed for pigeons and game birds (I think) but not chickens.  I had understood though that the egg withdrawl was 7 days (as Joyfull's link).  You dot it onto their skin at the back of the neck and under the arm pit.  Bit tricky when you are holding a struggling hen and trying to get the dropper filled and finding a bit of skin and then dotting it on!  OH assisted but was concentrating so much on the dropper that he didn't realise the bottle had tipped over and we lost the rest of the contents down his leg 
I am sceptical whether it really worked although I did read that the scales take a while to fall off and regrow so it would not be immediately apparent whether it has helped.  However over 6 months later and it is still not apparent that it has helped.  It is quite expensive - £8 for quite a small bottle (particularly when most ends up on your trousers!)
Once my back is better I am going to use good old Vaseline on their legs but need to be able to catch the girls before we can start the pedicures!
Otherwise I tend to dust my girls to deal with lice/mites etc and use the wondrous Flubenvet for worming - I have't been convinced by Ivermectin although this was for a specific problem.

[splash101]

Thanks Elvira.

I was trying to kill 2 birds with 1 stone (not literally) but since we have aviary birds that you can use it on, I thought it might be handy for the chickens too. Although I think the doseage % might be different, I'm not sure.

They're not showing any signs of needing it, or the OH  so i might hold off and stick to the poultry shield and clouds of diatom powder as a precaution.

I've a poorly back too at the moment so I have to ambush them on the way out of the coop in the morning if I need to administer anything. Or my daughter has to catch them. She has youth and energy on her side, I just have the cunning on mine.

I think you have to wait for your chickens to moult and then the old scales fall off.  I think I'd probably stick to the vaseline as well - no egg withdrawal for that.

[ANHBUC]

splash is right about having to wait for the molt before the scales renew.  I have a young bantam that has been treated but she probably won't get 'new legs'! until autumn or winter this year.

I think you would know Elvira if the treatment hadn't worked as the irritation drives the birds to distraction and they peck at their own legs.   

[Elvira]

So what I read was right after all! They don't seem particularly bothered by the scales and are keener pecking at my lawn!

Poor Josephine will just have to wait a little longer before she can enter the "Miss Lovely Chicken Legs" competition then... 

[Sassy]

Victoria Roberts a poultry vet who writes for country smallholder magazine does not recommend frontline for poultry and actively recommends NOT using it

[ANHBUC]

Victoria Roberts a poultry vet who writes for country smallholder magazine does not recommend frontline for poultry and actively recommends NOT using it

Does she have any advice on what to use instead so that we can all keep our poultry free from lice and nasty crawlies!   

[Sassy]

Victoria Roberts a poultry vet who writes for country smallholder magazine does not recommend frontline for poultry and actively recommends NOT using it

Does she have any advice on what to use instead so that we can all keep our poultry free from lice and nasty crawlies!   

I have gone back and looked at the article. Her recommendation is based on recent research - as hens preen all over unlike dogs and cats they ingest the active ingredient and this will present in the eggs thereby making them unsafe. she recommends diatomaceous earth