DE Inhalation emergency

[pbjmaker]

I have a hen that got spooked and landed in my garbage can full of DE and was coated in it. She has been sneezing and coughing a little since and is breathing through her mouth. What should I do?

Do I give her a bath or try to get it out of her nostrils?

 

[speckledhen]

Wetting it will soften the abrasive character of DE. If you can do a nasal flush (syringe with warm water, hold her head sort of down-facing and squirt it up the nostrils). It will run out the mouth and wash out some of that stuff. Just her eyes and nose you should really worry about with that much DE or any powder being breathed in.

 

[beakkeeper]

If it's food grade DE, it shouldn't cause any permanent damage. Is there any DE powder covering her nostrils? If so, try wiping it with a damp clothe. Make sure she gets lots of water. I'm not sure a bath would help.
I hope she gets better!

Keep us updated...

 

[pbjmaker]

I took a barely damp cloth and wiped down her face carefully then the rest of her body. She has finally quit sneezing and seems to be breathing better now. This is a Mottled Black Serama and when my husband retrieved her from the bin she was pure white. The other chickens didn't recognize her and started chasing her around.

It is food grade DE.

Now that I have her inside - maybe I should keep her in here under lights to try and get her to lay some eggs...

I wonder what a seramaX d'uccle would look like?

Thanks for the imput from both of you.

 

[beakkeeper]

I'm glad she's breathing better!

btw, a seramaXd'uccle would be ADORABLE!!!