Getting rid of bloomen feather mites!

SNORKEY

SNORKEY

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I've got a pair of clippers on the way to clip my cobs feathers off as he's stamping like mad. I thought I got rid of them in the summer as I kept them trimmed right back and washed his legs regularly and used nettex feather mite powder, I've only ever used shavings bedding as well.
So once I've got these feathers right off what's the best thing for me to wash or treat his legs with?
Thanks :)
 
Frontline!!! Not the spray because it will ot get close enough with the feathers. Imaging sure you keep it dry for 48 hours after application.
Give it a try our heavy horse has mega feathers and even with them we can get the mites under control very well.
Give it a try and please leave the feathers on. No better protection for a horses legs!
 
I use Coopers Fly Repellant Plus. We had struggled with feater mites for years, using just about everything known to man, including vets' patent cures. Then the cob picked up lice from a neighbour's pony. I used Coopers for that and we haven't had feather mites since. It doesn't seem to be quite so effective on the Draft horse though! I might have to try Frontline.
 
Do you mean the little drops you buy for dogs? And get one for each leg?
What's in that that kills the mites then? Thanks.
 
I used the frontline spray and left feathers on. Took my time and had lots of breaks! I seperated feathers and sprayed/rubbed in and did this from the back of the knee to the bottom. It worked really well. I've heard the drops do as well but not tried. If u can keep the feathers on its good. My lad doesn't get mud fever (then use pig oil to keep them away)
Hope it works for u
 
I bought an ivermectin wormer, diluted it 3 fold with aqueous cream and rubbed it in to clipped legs (hes hogged and clipped anyway) Repeated 2 weeks later to catch anything that had hatched in the meantime. He's not stamped since the first treatment. Easy, effective and relatively cheap :)
 
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I clipped then used ivermectin lotion when I bought him I keep him clipped the first moment we get any problems I use the lotion..
 
Dectomax injection worked wonders for my feathery cob. Costs about £10. He doesnt need a wormer afterwards for up to 10 weeks afterwards.

I also use pig oil and just redid his legs yesterday. If the feathers are slippy, mites can't stay on. I have to say, his feathers look amazing today! It's also a darn sight quicker to hose off any mud. Buy litres of the stuff and comb it through thoroughly.

I found an amazing brush on eBay that can be filled with liquid and the stuff comes out through the bristles-fabulous!
 
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How does a wormer kill mites!
The ivermectin wormer is cheaper than frontline so il try that first. I want his feathers off anyway and our fields arn't muddy so I'm sure he'l be fine without them.
 
Don't forget to do the belly. My vet told me that the little sods hang out up there too. I did mine hairy with ivermectin wash from the vet, coronet to elbows/stifles and along the belly. That was a year ago and no itching or stamping since. May not have been mites but he was itchy from something.

He kept his feathers :D

Just got to sort out the bloody mallenders :(
 
SNORKEY said:
How does a wormer kill mites!
The ivermectin wormer is cheaper than frontline so il try that first. I want his feathers off anyway and our fields arn't muddy so I'm sure he'l be fine without them.
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Not sure but it worked , I rang the vet and said the damn thing stamps all the time ( never had a cob before ) vet said attack with clippers then use lotion which I had as its the stuff you rub round their bums for pin worm.
His skin is roughened in the worse area he must have had them on and off for years.
 
SNORKEY said:
How does a wormer kill mites!
The ivermectin wormer is cheaper than frontline so il try that first. I want his feathers off anyway and our fields arn't muddy so I'm sure he'l be fine without them.
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It's the ivermectin that is the pesticide.

I've been using lime sulphur dip. Is really helping keep my boy happy and symptom free. I spray his whole undercarriage too from chest to under tail!
 
Best for mites is Neem Oil, stinks like nothing else but does really work!
Mix 2 tablespoons Neem and shampoo to 1 L of hot water and scrub that into the feathers.

Neem gets rid of red mite in chockens and they are notorious beggars to kill off
 
I feel your pain

I've tried Dectomax, ivermectin, pig oil and sulphur and (most successfully but be very careful) flypor (for cattle not licenced for horses).

However mine doesn't stamp I think he just accepts them tbh.

I cannot imagine how people cope if they can't clip though. Interstingly, I have just purchased a couple of months ago a new horse (TB!!!) and he is the only one to have ever picked them up. They really are a law to themselves!
 
Is he on straw? I changed to shavings (now pellets, tons cheaper) and I really helped too. Ivermectin does help a lot. Dectomax worked for mine, does every time.

If he's stamping, I'd be tempted to clip off feathers. They grow back, my boy looks fab now having had them clipped off a few times. I think it may have helped them come back thicker.

However, it's a very personal choice and some people think feathers are great protection, others think being able to get to the skin is better than having feathers.
 
Thanks, he is on shavings. Last year he was on straw, I don't know if that's where he got them from or if he came with them when I brought him last February. I've got an Arab x and a sports horse and neither of them are effected. I've got a spare wormer laying about, just need some cream to mix it with. Il try that as soon as his feathers are off and if that doesn't work il look at the other options you've all given me, thanks.
 
SNORKEY said:
How does a wormer kill mites!
The ivermectin wormer is cheaper than frontline so il try that first. I want his feathers off anyway and our fields arn't muddy so I'm sure he'l be fine without them.
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Basically (to answer the question of how does a wormer kill mites) its because mites are a parasite and so therefore a wormer will do the trick, but it MUST contain ivermectin.

My vet prescribed for my boy as follows: Three separate doses of an ivermectin-containing wormer, taken at fortnightly intervals.

But I would consult a vet before doing this as its possible to build up resistence to wormers very easily.
 
Are you sure it's mites? Not sallenders/mallenders? Or flexural dermatitis? That's erupted in my (slightly) feathery cob at the moment, and she's stamping like mad. Treating tomorrow ... old fashioned but pretty effective remedy of washing legs with a coal tar shampoo, leaving to dry completely, and then rubbing/spraying in Baby Oil, making sure to massage it RIGHT in so that it reaches the skin.

It usually works for her. I thought for ages it was mites until the vet sent samples off to the lab on two occasions, and the above was what were diagnosed. Anyway, whatever it is, good luck. My girl was busy rubbing her itichies on the guy rope to the telephone post in our field today. Probably discover she's cut off the village!!
 
Rather than taking her feathers off and treating topically speak to your vets about getting a shot of dectomax - it's an injectable form of ivermectin that is used as a cattle wormer. It's not licensed for horses but is used routinely and is safe. It works really well for feather mites
 
mynutmeg said:
Rather than taking her feathers off and treating topically speak to your vets about getting a shot of dectomax - it's an injectable form of ivermectin that is used as a cattle wormer. It's not licensed for horses but is used routinely and is safe. It works really well for feather mites
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I agree it does work however you need to repeat and repeat it more often every time. Untill it doesn't work any more after 18 months or so. I swear by the frontline drops. Put it on, repeat after 14 days and that twice a year. Could not recommend it more!
 
Out of interest, would these treatments keep your horse mite free when another in the field appears to have a serious feather mite problem?

FWIW, I've tried speaking to the owners (nicely, of course :) ).The horse in question is constantly stamping, chewing, scratching his legs on things, lying down to be able to chew his back legs, etc. They're convinced there's not an issue, as he had a mite injection a couple of years ago.
 
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