[carolbriar]

I went to lift my broody hen out of the nest box and saw a flea on her.  I tried to catch it but it got away further into her feathers.  I will have to put the Johnsons anti mite spray on her and all the others and give the house a good clean and spray as well.  I will put some lice powder in the dust bathing area they use and hope that all this will eradicate all the crawlies there might be. 
I presume they get these things from wild birds?  We have a problem with jackdaws coming into the run and taking food.  We were looking at a treadle feeder but thankfully I have managed to persuade my oh that we need to cover the entire top of the run which means a roll of 6' high x 50 mtrs will just cover the top.  I think I worked that out at about 60 mtrs of floor space for my 5 hens which is a good size for them as they don't free range. 

[Jeanette]

I use Frontline on mine with no problem.

[carolbriar]

If I use frontline, which one?  Kitten strength? Spray or spot on?  My vet was suggesting Ivermectin which has about a weeks egg withdrawal or spray frontline.  He doesn't have the kitten spot on and would have to order it in for me for Thursday.  I'm in a dither as to what to put on them.  I have the Johnsons spray but they were done just a couple or so weeks ago.  I used it twice, seven days between each spray.  Any help would be really useful.

[joyfull]

I use the spray on version of frontline - just a quick spray and thats it. Broodies are prone to mites and lice so as soon as they start to sit on eggs I treat them  

[carolbriar]

Thanks Joyfull. 

[Tazzy]

Thanks for the tip - little Olive has been brooding eggs for almost 2 weeks and has a bit of a scratch around the head each time she's let out. Should I spray her all over? Don't want to risk anything lingering to her underneath as I'm not sure how it would affect the eggs.

[Casey76]

If you use frontline drops they are systemic, so if you put drops between the shoulders (make sure you get the skin and not just feathers!) it will still kill any nasties on her head.

[carolbriar]

I just spoke to my vets and they have the frontline spray which I thought might be easier to put on but they only have one for dogs and cats.  Is that the one that everyone uses or is there another version for cats only?  It comes in a 100ml spray.  Hope someone can let me know before tomorrow morning when I go and collect one.  Thanks everyone.

[joyfull]

thats the one I use 

[carolbriar]

Hi Joyfull, thanks for the speedy reply.  When you spray the hens do you just part the feathers and spray on the back of the neck or do you do as you would with a cat and spray all over (that would be quite tricky)?  Would the spot on be better or is the spray just as easy? Thanks

[joyfull]

I part the feathers and give one quick short squirt in between the shoulder blades, broodies are prone to fleas 

[carolbriar]

That's brilliant, thank you

[susan - happy hens]

Hi Carol, Just noticed this post.  I used the frontline drops for cats 2 weeks ago because we were going on holiday and I knew we wouldn't be doing our usual cleaning routine.  My 3 hens had been having a lice problem and I didn't want to leave them untreated. Before that I had been using Barrier Red mite spray.  Do you have to use different products for different things - something for mites, something for lice, or do most powders and sprays treat both?  Since coming home and handling the hens I've noticed the creepies (not visable) on me.  x thanks x susan

[carolbriar]

Hi Susan
I thought the frontline would kill red mites, fleas, lice etc.  I don't know how often you have to use it though.  I wouldn't be keen to use it unless I thought they might have creepy crawlies.  I used the Johnson anti mite spray last week and I would need to use it again now.  My OH wasn't keen on using frontline but when I brought up the subject with him again yesterday and said how much easier it would be he agreed