any help you can give appreciated

[MEGAN]

My two bantams hens have managed to hatch eight chicks between them. They have been sitting for ever until I relented and let them have eggs.
I have just been to check all is well and I notice that both mothers appear to have swollen crusty faces which I think is caused by some kind of mite. Obvioulsy they both have chicks of just over a day old so I'm thinking that ivermectin would be a no no.
I have removed them both from the house and put them in animal carriers with their chicks until I gut out the broody house. Any ideas what I can do to treat their faces that won't harm the chicks.

[pottymoo]

I would go with canesten cream sounds like it is fungal moo x

[275wright]

Megan would they have picked up scaley leg mite. Sometimes broodies can be prone to it sitting for so long and it can spread to the face. If it is that suffocation with something like vaseline rubbed into their faces and combs should be safe.xxx

[MEGAN]

Moo Im really thinking a mite though I can see why you may think fungal. Since I picked them up and moved them iv been really itchy.

Sharon I must admit that is what I'm thinking. They have been sat for ever. I will give the vasaline a go tomorrow. They are both in animal carriers with their chicks tonight as I have cleaned out and sprayed there house with strong mite kill spray. Im pretty sure there are no red mite. There broody house is the same one with a splitter in the middle so I'm treating the whole thing. OH is well impressed two carriers full of hens and chicks in the conservatory

[undautri]

hi megan
im thinking mites but could be northern fowl or red - i think youd have noticed a bad enough infection of scaley leg mites on their feet and legs before it would affect their faces as they actually live and breed under scales .
whatever parasite it is you need to get rid of it quickly as any moving on to the chicks could prove fatal.
if it was me id go with the ivermectin- as long as its the topical drops you mean like harkermectin. as long as you make sure you get it onto the skin and not feathers then it should be safe as soon as it is dry...itll be a day or two before the chicks are adventurous enough to start clambering all over their mums.
mites cannot tolerate daylight so keep the families out as much as poss- keeping them cooped up together will spread the mites quicker.if the weathers not in your favour them get them as close to a window as poss- might just be enough to kill any that go onto the fluffy chicks
if you get any itchy bumps then lots of soap and a nail brush will kill any that try to set up home on you.
hope you get rid of them quickly
kath

[MEGAN]

iv got the ivermectin 0.8 drops. I Don't think its red mite. The broodies are pekins so their legs are feathery so I may not spot scaly leg mite I will check in the morning. They were both generously dusted with louse powder before they started to sit on eggs.
Mums have not had them out yet as they only hatched over the last 24 hours. I fear that the bad weather here is going to stop her venturing out with them into the runs they have are quite open at the sides although I had put some plastic covering over the top to stop the worst of any bad weather. The wind here has suddenly got right up and a hugh branch has just fallen down on to the large run sides were the hens were not an hour before, I was shutting the bantams in and it nearly got me. There is another hanging off too.
It has just taken me ten mins trying to catch Cracker and her two six week old chicks in there small run crawling around on the floor in poop and alsorts with my bad blooming knee so I could put them in the larger house were they will be safer. Iv put a bit of board up around the nest box so the big girls can't get them in the morning. What a blooming day,
If you think the ivermectin will be safe with the chicks I'm sure that will the best way of dealing with the problem.

[undautri]

well i cant see how they could ingest any and doubt if any got onto their skin that it would do any harm- its used on small cage birds and pigeons- it penetrates the skin quickly so as soon as mum is dry then its safe to handle.
like a lot of remedies no tests have been done to see the effect on humans eating eggs or meat from a treated chicken so people are reluctant to recommend its use - not because it is dangerous for the animal but because it could get into the human food chain.
just saw your other post - youre having a rough time of it....mention the chicks to your vet while youre there
good luck
kath

[MEGAN]

Kath I know its always the case you go for months and months without a problem then they all come along at once.