Definitely mites. Now what?

[Hen Pen Jem]

Oh, I have one more thing to add.

Please try playing some soft gentle music for her. I have been doing this for my chickens, after they became highly stressed from the bob cat incident.

They are very tranquil when the music is on. And I think it has helped them recover from the stress.

Just a thought.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

Sorry to here about Anne. My first chicken loss was to EYP or ascites. I'm not sure which. I knew when it was her time. Until then I spoiled her and gave her love.
Hugs to you at this difficult time.

 

[Lnzsmith]

Thanks all. As an update, she did get up on her own today (she's currently overnighting in an empty basement room with heat) and has polished off a plate of spinach and eggs. Talking a lot about everything. Not moving much. She's still just COVERED with mites so the ivermectin really didn't do anything. An amazing member of Backyard Chickens has sent us a small amount of Elector so we are kind of waiting to treat again until we receive that (hopefully today), but I am not sure how much longer we should wait with this level of an infestation. Would dipping her be too hard on her? Like in a sevin liquid or something? What if this is just grief, shock, and a mite infestation? Maybe we could save her yet...

 

[Lnzsmith]

Oh, I have one more thing to add.

Please try playing some soft gentle music for her. I have been doing this for my chickens, after they became highly stressed from the bob cat incident.

They are very tranquil when the music is on. And I think it has helped them recover from the stress.

Just a thought.

I will try that! We have an all-classical station. I think we underestimated her grief and shock...but she is old too. It's hard to say what is happening.

 

[Lnzsmith]

And now labored breathing and crouching in a corner. This is a roller coaster ride of emotions...

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

Lnzsmith,

So she ate and then, had labored breathing?

When they are ill, they usually won't eat. This is interesting...

Don't be disheartened, you are doing a good job. Sometimes these chickens really test our feelings. Yes, there could be something else internal that is stressing her system.

Labored breathing happens when the heart is weak or congested, or the airway is obstructed, or even anemia (common in heavy mite infestation).

Have you tried a warm bath in dog flea shampoo? Then, you can blow dry her and apply some petrolatum jelly on the combs, wattles, earlobes, and around eyes. Also, spray some non-stick cooking spray on her vent area to protect it from any mites still on her. Any non-stick cooking spray will do, canola, olive oil, vegetable oil etc. The lecithin in the spray is nourishing for the skin too! I use it whenever I have to wash a chicken's vent area. Just did it this morning!

Now, you should also feel under her belly and between her legs. Do you feel any swelling?
If not, that's good.

I had an exasperating morning too!

One hen had diarrhea last night and this morning. So, I had to bathe her bottom and blow dry, then, administer some herbal remedy.

When I returned her to the pen, I noticed my other hen with eyes closed and puffed up.

When I felt her crop, it was squishy and made noises. I treated her, then went about my morning chores.

An hour, later I went to check on her. She was heaving, so I quickly picked her up and held her upside down slightly. So much undigested food came flying out. This is a very dangerous procedure, as the hen can choke or have a heart attack.

And, wouldn't you know - that's what happened! The hen started to lose consciousness, and the comb and face started to turn purple.

I held her, and talked to her while massaging and patting her crop. Then, I just asked God to guide me in helping my hen. I said, "Filamena, don't you die today, you are only two and a half years old." And then, I just started to do CPR on her.

After about a minute, she started to revive and opened her eyes, then the color started to return.

Whew! Thank you Lord!

Lnzsmith, don't get disheartened...do what you can, if she is meant to live another day, then that's what will be. If not, you will have your cry, and then, you can find a special place in the yard to bury her. I have done this three times this year, but not today!

God Bless and peace to you!

 

[Lnzsmith]

Thanks Hen Pen Jem. We bought some flea shampoo and gently washed her. Though she is alert and once again spent the afternoon in her favorite places in the yard, she is weak and I think dying. Her belly is soft and squishy, I suspect she has an internal disorder. But now she doesn't have as many mites! Beautiful old girl, I feel better that I helped her look better and feel better...
Never thought I'd get attached to a chicken! But she is a sweet old lady. And I think she has had a good life.

 

[Hen Pen Jem]

I hear you...

 

[Kiki]

I'm sorry you girl isn't doing well.
You really should re think using a permethrin spray in your coop to get rid of the mites ASAP, before your whole flock is covered in them.

If your cats don't get inside your coop I am going to have to say it would be safe to use in the coop.

Get rid of the mites before they take over all of your birds, please.

 

[Lnzsmith]

We are treating the coop tomorrow. We plan to use spinosad though, which sounds like it's way more effective and much safer than sevin or permethrin anyway. The affected chicken has never been in the coop or with the new chickens so although I'm sure there are mites there I feel we will be okay. I don't think she will ever be introduced to them.