You've picked up your beautiful new fluffs and can't wait to introduce them to the flock. STOP! This is no joke. Until you've experienced those uninvited, unwanted, even deadly hitchhikers you can't begin to understand the devastation they can cause. You say, you've looked them over from head to toe, the breeder has a 10 star rating, and the coop the came from looked like the Hilton. I say, bugs don't discriminate and they can be so small the average person cannot detect those harbingers of death. So I follow up with, just do it.
The only thing it requires is a little time and patience, along with a few tools. In our case, we use Ivermectin, Valbazen, and Elector PSP. All 3 products will eliminate most, if not all, bugs, worms, and parasites that may be along for the ride. All 3 products are readily available online and at your local feed store. We have smaller amounts of elector psp here at the farm for purchase, sometimes. Also, no price gouging here. But that's another story form another time.
On day one, I locate a pair of readers and find a spot with a lot of good light. You will want to check them from head to toe. Trim up the crest if they can't see and while you are up there check out their eyes, ears, nose, and beard. Bugs love to hide in the crest and beard. At this point I would already be spraying with Elector PSP. Spray on the crest, beard, top of the wings, under wings, back, top of tail, vent, legs, and under the feet. When you finish up with the feet check out the toes, do they need to be trimmed? Check the roosters spurs, are they growing correctly? I have a poor rooster whose spurs wrap around his legs! If you trim toes and draw blood, have some cornstarch or flour on hand to stem the bleeding.
When you completed the once over, dose with Valbazen to kill off the worms inside. It is a broad spectrum that will take care of almost all problems. Done! Easy peasy. Now you wait. How long you wait is up to you. During that time you can have them tested for the nasties that don't go away like mycoplasma, merek's, etc. There are protocols to follow if they come back positive and many support groups to help in your decision, but remember, a positive is not always a death sentence, but it does come with more responsibility. It's also a great time to bond with them and get to know their personalities.
You've made it to day ten! Time to spray and dose again. The second time around, we use Elector PSP again and then Ivermectin. We prefer the pour on Ivermectin and depending on weight will only use 1 to 3 drops on the back of the neck. It enters the blood stream and any biting bugs will ingest it and die off. It does not kill eggs like Elector PSP. No need to put drops all over the body. A day or two after the second dose we usually begin adding them to the flock under strict supervision. Bullying and fighting are natural, but you will know when it's too much. Just scoop up the trouble maker and find a new spot. Eventually they will all settle down. After a few weeks the cliques will reset and it will be like they were always there. Enjoy!
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