Black Mites Around Eyes

[jm952370]

I want to say hi, i have browsed this forum for a while and now require some help

We have 3 x Platinum Sussex We have had since 8 weeks old they are now 4 months old (not quite laying yet) - they are normally incredibly inquisitive - even yesterday they seemed ok - this morning when i let them out i noticed one of them hadn't left there coop - upon investigation she seemed lethargic and drunk / uneasy on her legs - we isolated her off best we could.

This afternoon we checked the other two and noticed one of their eyes wasnt quite open and upon close investigation there are little black bugs around one eye on two of the chickens - im assuming it is this which is making one of the girls appear lethargic and unwell

we have today dusted all 3 chicks in DE and fully cleaned out their coop with hot water and eucalytus and then doused the coop in DE.

am i right thinking this is most likely whats causing the illness or could their be something else - i include a photo to try and clarify what these bugs are

many thanks in advance and i look forward to being part of a great community as we begin our journey with our girls

 

[Eggcessive]

Where are you located? I cannot see well enough to know if that is stick tight fleas or not. If so, those may have to be removed with tweezers, and smothered with triple antibiotic ointment. The permethrin should work to keep them out of the coop for 30 days. I would get a small 8 ounce bottle of permethrin 10 concentrate from Tractor Supply. It can be mixed with water to use in a spray bottle, and instructions for mixing are under the label. Here is a link with pictures of sticktight fleas:
https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/mg236

 

[jm952370]

thanks, we are based in Australia, so we will take a look

 

[jm952370]

I wanted to follow up on this thread - we treated each of our 3 by hand for 7 days checking them for the fleas and removing them, we have treated the coop twice since . we have since wormed them all. all show no signs of stick fast fleas.

unfortunately tho one of the girls hasnt recovered as well as the others and is now in icu (a box in our front room). she appeared to perk up but last weekend took another turn for the worst at the weekend - we have taken her to the vets twice now (she has an infected eye/ and has little to no energy and just sleeps - but in a position where she is nearly tipped over on the injured eye side - head tilted right over to the right. she is eating and drinking and is very alert when you pick her up and her good eye is lovely and clear - she is incredibly uneasy on her legs. has anyone ever heard of this - ive done so much reading that im out of ideas - could it be a lack of vitamins that could cause this?

 

[Punkybrewster]

DE will do nothing in regards to treating lice, mites, fleas or worms. Are you now using permethrin ?

 

[jm952370]

Yes , so many conflicting stories on DE

we have used pestene lice and mite powder on the girls
we have cleaned the house out using Bayer 25g Coopex Insecticide Sachet - and are keeping a very close eye on them, our really poorly chick is in a box in the front room on shavings with no sign of mites or lice or fleas yet she is as poorly as ever - noticed today little black dots on her comb

 

[boskelli1571]

Yes , so many conflicting stories on DE

we have used pestene lice and mite powder on the girls
we have cleaned the house out using Bayer 25g Coopex Insecticide Sachet - and are keeping a very close eye on them, our really poorly chick is in a box in the front room on shavings with no sign of mites or lice or fleas yet she is as poorly as ever - noticed today little black dots on her comb

She is possibly anemic so give her some vitamins, extra protein etc. You couls also crush up a vit B complex tablet (human) and sprinkle on her food, it may help

 

[Eggcessive]

The Coopex appears to be permethrin, so that should help to kill bugs inside the coop. Bedding has to be emptied and burned or moved far away. Are the black dots the sticktight fleas, or are they mites? Mites must be treated at 5-7 day intervals to break the lifecycle. If they are sticktight fleas, remove them and apply petroleum jelly or other ointment or oil to smother the fleas. I would get some cooked beef liver or liver cat food and feed a small amount daily for vitamins and iron, in case of anemia.

 

[jm952370]

The Coopex appears to be permethrin, so that should help to kill bugs inside the coop. Bedding has to be emptied and burned or moved far away. Are the black dots the sticktight fleas, or are they mites? Mites must be treated at 5-7 day intervals to break the lifecycle. If they are sticktight fleas, remove them and apply petroleum jelly or other ointment or oil to smother the fleas. I would get some cooked beef liver or liver cat food and feed a small amount daily for vitamins and iron, in case of anemia.

The black dots were the stick fleas - we have removed these and there have been no signs of these so far. i will try and feed her some cat food but she isnt't keen on eating

she is lying right over on her side at the moment

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you try to get her drinking some electrolyte water? Is she eating anything?