A single bird infested with lice.

[zoomia]

I have a flock of 13, all of whom are happy and healthy. Except one, who has seemed sluggish for a few weeks now. She's 38 weeks, a Barnevelder who has yet to start laying (though she's been pinking up). I have been assuming that she's going through the final juvenile molt because she's been doing a slow molt for several weeks. I had attributed her sluggishness to this.

But today, I was examining everyone for parasites etc. Everyone is clean as a whistle. (I had Invermectined everyone back in the fall) Except for this one pullet. She was COVERED in lice.

This is strange. How likely is it that one can be infected with lice but no one else is? I'm going to go ahead and dust everyone, clean out the coop (which is pretty clean), and all of that--but I was wondering if anyone else has experienced this with one bird. I went ahead and Invermectined her again just in case there are other parasites that may be weakening her system.

Oh--and here's the questionnaire if it makes a difference.

1) What type of bird , age and weight.
Barnenvelder, 38 weeks, not sure of weight--she's not skinny, but she's on the thinner side. (See feeding below) Also, she has ALWAYS had a very bony crop area. It poofs the feathers out.

2) What is the behavior, exactly.
Sluggish, going through a slow molt with pin feathers and everything. But covered in lice.

3) How long has the bird been exhibiting symptoms?
If I think about it, probably a couple of months.

4) Is there any bleeding, injury, broken bones or other sign of trauma.
No.

5) What happened, if anything that you know of, that may have caused the situation.
??

6) What has the bird been eating and drinking, if at all.
She eats a LOT. I mean, they all eat a lot, but she's ALWAYS got her nose in the food. I feed 22 percent game bird feed, free choice oystershell (which she has been beaking up), grit, BOSS, table scraps, freeranging (so yes, worms, etc.)

7) How does the poop look? Normal? Bloody? Runny? etc.
Normal

8) What has been the treatment you have administered so far?
Ivermectin pour on, will dust as soon as it stops raining.

9 ) What is your intent as far as treatment? For example, do you want to treat completely yourself, or do you need help in stabilizing the bird til you can get to a vet?
NA

10) If you have a picture of the wound or condition, please post it. It may help.
LICE!

11) Describe the housing/bedding in use
Pine shavings with DE.

 

[happytxchick]

I have this EXACT situation. I came to this section of the index because I was about to post for myself, and then saw yours. Our set up sounds almost identical. My bird is a 17 week old Welsummer cockerel, Mr. Friendly is his name. I dusted him one week ago, and again yesterday. He just seems to be getting more and more sluggish. Out of my flock, he is the only one with the problem.

I do not know where to get the Invermectin pour-on. Where did you get it?

I wonder if our birds have worms? I think that I've heard that worms and lice can run together, so to speak.

I will watch this thread...if folks answer your questions, they'll be answering mine, too. Thanks for posting this!

 

[cobrien]

I am no expert but can say this - when a bird is in a weakened state, they are more prone to lice, I think because they don't groom themselves/dust bathe/move around as much. I have had a bird that laid an egg internally who got very sick and she was the only one in the flock with visible lice. Once she recovered I put more DE in the coop and on her and no more lice on anyone. My vet said the lice are always around and sickly birds can get infested quickly.

Your girl sounds like she might have more going on than just lice. Again I am no expert, could it be worms since she is so hungry?

 

[Sillystunt]

ok, so you will wanna try to get off some of the cluster(trash bag them) then go to the walmart and go to the garden section. There is some stuff called sevin dust. You want to powder her where ahe has the lice (kinda do all over her but head) PLEASE don not inhale when doing this. It has a chemical in it that kills lice!!! Stuff works, we all use it here. You will neeed to treat every 5-7 days. I say do 5.
Then clean out the bedding, shavings or what ever is in their coop. Sprinkle that stuff everywhere. Then add new bedding and repeat as well.

The KEY is retreating them since the clusters are eggs which will hatch................DE doesn't work that well. Better preventative than corrective

Also check for mites on the bird(night time is best since those bugger come out at night) Looks like moving black or red spots, that stuff will kill them as well!!!

For her immunities give her some plain yougurt(probiotics) and some scrambled eggs for protien....helps boost her energy. I also like to get some poly vitosol from the drugstore(baby vitiamins) and give a drop down the mouth.

That bird will give all your other ones lice if you don't treat her aggressivly. Best of luck! We have all been here

Invermectin is for worms, your just deworming her with that stuff.

Sorry for any typo's i am typing fast and exhausted!!

 

[zoomia]

Quote:
Oh good, I'm glad to hear that I'm not the only one. I was shocked when I saw how much infestation was going on. Shocked. And everyone else was not just clear, but healthy looking skin, etc.

You can get the Invermectin pour on at the feed store. It's for cattle, off label use for poultry. I read about it all here--if you do a search, it will give you dosage instructions and everything.

 

[zoomia]

Quote:
This makes sense to me, thanks for the reply. I was thinking that she might have more than just lice too (great minds and all that!), which is why I did the Ivermectin.

 

[zoomia]

Quote:
Thanks so much for the reply. I will definitely give her some yogurt etc. Actually, I'll just give it to them all and bribe them into loving me. I have sevin, and will dust everyone just in case (as soon as it stops raining), clean out the coop, etc.

FYI, ivermectin actually does work on most lice too. too.

 

[AHappychick]

if you havent might as well bathe her they really like being blown dried and it helps. its true the lice always find the weaker bird. Strange huh?

Good Luck!

 

[happytxchick]

I stopped by the feed store and got some wormer for the waterer. I will try the yogurt and eggs, too. I may just have to dust a third time...I am using Sevin 5%. Thanks again.

Btw, I think I should also mention that Mr. Friendly smells, which I know can be a sign of illness, but WHICH illness?? Does anyone know?

Zoomia - does your chicken smell?????

 

[zoomia]

Quote:
No, not that I've noticed. Not that chickens are wafting perfume through the air on the best of days. I think it's infectious coryza that smells.