Cured the mites now sick and not getting better

[Kylie289]

So I have a flock of 15. And a HUGE coop! They are so happy. They free range the big yard. No run. We have NEVER had any issues ever other than a chicken with a limp. A little over a week ago one of our RIR got mites. We treated the flock and her and the coop and all was well- we caught it fast enough that only the one chicken got them!! Thank the chicken Gods!!! We separated her because she was super weak and getting picked on. She has now been separated for over a week. One day she seems to get better the next she seems worse then back to better and so on and so forth. I now have her in my outside basement (because we have had tons of rain) giving her vitamins through eye dropper and eye dropping water with apple cider vinegar down her throat because on the bad days she won’t eat or drink by herself. She will eat eggs if put in front of her and treats (seeds) and SOMETIMES she will drink on her own. She has smelly diarrhea But I’m guessing from the vitamins and apple cider vinegar??? Today I found her moved from where I fed her this morning but with her legs sticking out to the side (she never did the leg thing before). She moves but can’t stand. (Hasn’t in over a week really. Just barley. She ate eggs I gave her tonight and some seeds but wouldn’t drink. So I forced water down again and some vitamins. She is making noise sometimes??? I don’t know what else to do for her. Does it take a while to get better and see a big difference?? I don’t want her to continue to suffer if she isn’t gona make it. Just thought I’d see a bigger difference in her in over a week???? PLEASE HELP!

 

[21hens-incharge]

What did you treat with?
Did you retreat at 7 days to get any hatchlings?
Have you had a fecal float test done?

How often are you giving ACV?

 

[roosterhavoc]

I don’t know whats wrong with your hen but she probably was the only bird with mites because she was already sick and wasn’t able to dust and groom herself like the rest.

 

[Kylie289]

I’m not really giving ACV. I put a little bit in her water holder and have been using that water with eye dropper when I see she isn’t drinking. Like 2x a day. I used DE on her and the flock and then the next day when I noticed she still have them I used permethrin. Only on her. Tomorrow would be day 7 to treat with permethrin again. I’m not sure what a fecal float test is?? We have NEVER had any sick chow in’s in 6 years!! Never had to treat with even DE before or give vitamins or anything. We have just let nature do it’s thing and have always had healthy chickens until now.... it’s been super rainy here ALL summer.... maybe that explains the mites?? She isn’t egg bound and nothing is stuck in her crop.... those are the only things I knew to check for....

 

[roosterhavoc]

I’m not really giving ACV. I put a little bit in her water holder and have been using that water with eye dropper when I see she isn’t drinking. Like 2x a day. I used DE on her and the flock and then the next day when I noticed she still have them I used permethrin. Only on her. Tomorrow would be day 7 to treat with permethrin again. I’m not sure what a fecal float test is?? We have NEVER had any sick chow in’s in 6 years!! Never had to treat with even DE before or give vitamins or anything. We have just let nature do it’s thing and have always had healthy chickens until now.... it’s been super rainy here ALL summer.... maybe that explains the mites?? She isn’t egg bound and nothing is stuck in her crop.... those are the only things I knew to check for....

How old is the hen? You should treat all your birds for mites now. De isn’t really useful for treating birds.

 

[Kylie289]

She is 5. Why would I treat all my birds with permethrin if they don’t have any? Just curious. I am more of a natural person when it comes to things. She has been separated since we found them. And I know the DE didn’t work to get rid of them for her it did stop mites from getting in the coop and on the other birds. We have been checking daily. I just don’t know why I would give medicine if they don’t have it. That sort of scares me a bit. I’ve never EVER given these chickens meds or even acv or de..... until now

 

[21hens-incharge]

I agree about treating everyone AND the coop with permethrin.
They could very well be infested but handling it better. Mites are very hard to see.
A fecal float test is done by a vet to check for worms. It doesn't have to be a bird vet. Any vet should be able to do a simple fecal float.

 

[Kylie289]

Thanks for your help! I will be treating all of them in the morning and coop. Hoping this doesn’t backfire- I’ve read bad things about them breathing it in I really appreciate all your help. Even though we have had chickens for a while, like I said, we have absolutely no experience with ANY sicknesses or bugs or any of that!

 

[21hens-incharge]

Are you using the spray or a powder?

If powder just avoid the head. I used a baby/childs sock. Took some wrestling to cover that head but made me feel better.

 

[21hens-incharge]

Now then.....
Trying to be kind but truthful here......
A 5 year old RIR may very well be at the end of her days.
Really 5 is a good long life for a RIR.

I hope I am wrong.