Anything else I can do for weak hen?

[Goldenpheasantlover]

Unfortunately, mites and lice snuck up on us. We had a slight panic over the weekend flea-bombing the hen houses as we discovered they were teeming with blood suckers. One of the hens, our only silver laced Wyandotte, got the worst of it and was getting weaker and skinnier gradually, but today is a new low.

It was warm yesterday and hot today, so I've brought her inside somewhere cooler. She barely has the energy to stand or eat on her own. I doubt she drank much yesterday which is probably why she's worse today. I've been drip feeding her sugar water all day but I wanted to know if there was anything else I could do to help her. She can barely keep her eyes open and I'm worried this might be her last day, but I'll give her every chance I can.

She did manage to eat a little food yesterday and the day before but otherwise its been nothing but sugar water for her. Should I try some liquidised spinach? Vitamin supplements? Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Did you treat the chickens themselves for mites and lice - what did you use?

If she still has an infestation, treat her with a Permethrin based poultry dust or spray.

Do your best to get her hydrated first - sugar water is fine. You can also use something like Poultry Nutri-Drench - this is vitamins which can be added to the water or direct dose her at 1cc per 3lbs.

After she is hydrated, see if she will eat some wet poultry feed, chopped egg or a little beef liver - both of these are packed with protein and nutrients that may give her a boost.

 

[littlefarmgirl9]

Get some permethrin dust ASAP! It's used for treating lice and mites, sold at farm, garden, and feed stores. Read the back to find directions for poultry. Permethrin spray also works, but a sick hen isn't good to get wet. Do this as soon as you can! And don't worry about getting a big container, this stuff is good to have on hand. Electrolytes in her water might help with energy. Make sure she eats, maybe bread or feed soaked in water. Just make sure they don't get moldy and rotten.
A very warm, steamy, shallow, and quick bath could help with the live bugs, but the eggs won't budge that easy.
Permethrin is the most important! Make sure whatever treatment you give her has that as a main, active ingredient.

 

[Goldenpheasantlover]

The birds have all been treated themselves and are doing much better, the hen in question has had an injection to kill off any mites still on her due to her worse condition, and she's basically now mite free. That was a few days ago and she was starting to perk up until the weather suddenly got warm again.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Sounds like she is dehydrated. Get her drinking, then offer food.

 

[Goldenpheasantlover]

Added note, she is panting with her beak open, heavy fast breathing, loud enough that I can hear it from the doorway. Occasionally she burbles, but not very often. I'm hoping it's pure dehydration rather than a respiratory thing

 

[Wyorp Rock]

How old is she?
When was the last time she laid an egg?
Any swelling/bloat or feeling of fluid in the abdomen?
What does her poop look like?

Do you know if her crop emptied overnight?

 

[Goldenpheasantlover]

She's about 2 or 3 I think?
No idea when she last laid an egg, its been a while. She was broody with a clutch in the spring and then immediately went broody again after they'd grown up.
No swelling or bloating that I can feel in the upper half, but also very little breast muscle so she's pretty underweight. Back end does feel a little squishy and she has a pretty dirty butt.
Poop I think has recently been mostly water because that's all we've got in her last few days, but other than that it's been normal.
I'd assume her crop emptied as I couldn't feel anything when I brought her inside.
She'll stand up once in a while for a very short amount of time and seems to get more 'burbly' then with her breathing.

 

[Goldenpheasantlover]

I think my efforts were a little too late. Went in to check on her and as if she'd been waiting for some company she passed away pretty quickly after I got in. She was a sweet little thing and we're all pretty sad, but I'll be keeping an eye on the remaining chickens to make sure they don't get as bad as her, or for any signs of illness

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm very sorry