Help! I bought a Silkie at a Poultry Show today and she's infested with some type of pest and also

[leadwolf1]

Why is she so slimy looking???

I would wait and see if the sevin works before moving on to the Ivermectin. What you are describing sounds more like lice to me. The Sevin should take care of them. You will need to make sure that you reapply the powder in 10 days to kills the hatchlings. I would not be cutting her feathers off. I have never heard of anyone else doing this. If you retreat in 10 days, there is no need to cut off/pull out her feathers. If you like, you can strip the eggcasings off with a very finetooth comb. Walmart has kits for human lice with these combs attached. Buy one of those if you would like to get rid of the eggcasings.

I would also up her protein, vitamins and electrolytes. These buggies strip them of so many vital nutrients. Please keep these chickens in quarantine for at least a month if not longer. Maybe 6 -8 weeks would be best. You need to make sure that there is not an underlying problem causing such a bad infestation. In my experience, chickens with weakened immune systems are the ones the bugs attack first.

 

[Silkie75]

Thanks leadwolf1. She is slimey bc I took this picture during her bath when I first noticed the eggs. It's just water (maybe some soap- all rinsed after). Thank goodness I made the decision to bathe her last night when I brought her home. I wouldn't have seen these eggs for a while probably. The reason I was going to cut or pull the feathers is bc someone in this thread said I should do one or the other. But if you've never heard of it, I won't. I just want to do what is best for her, and to get her better quickest. Do her eyes look weird to you in the picture? The skin just looks pulled away from the eyeball. I just noticed when I was comparing to my other Silkie bath pictures. What should I do about the other blue Silkie I bought yesterday (from a different breeder)? Should I do the Sevin with her too and the pillow case? Or a lighter dusting? I found one pest on her but I think she got it from the infested one on the ride home. They are separated now and in quarantine in my garage where they will be for at least a month.

As far as my other 4 (on the other side of the house in a coop). Should I use Sevin with them? I haven't seen anything on them, but they were in the same car on the ride home. I don't know how far these critters can jump from chicken to chicken. I'd rather treat early and get rid of something. And thanks for the vitamin/electrolyte tip- I'll get that too! (Gee- so much for a $10 chicken. lol)

 

[Silkie75]

Also, when I touch her- do I need to wear gloves and long sleeves so these critters don't get on me? Or are they strictly chicken parasites? And after I touch her, should I jump in the shower and put my clothes in the washer before getting near my other pets to prevent them possibly jumping on me and then on my animals? I have dogs and a cat that are super healthy and I want to make sure they stay that way! Thanks everyone so much and sorry for all of the questions!

 

[starrdice]

You can also use virgin coconut oil! works wonders and the chickens smell great! Mine had what your describing. I bathed them in sea salt/water, soap water, ACV/water then rinsed them. After that you dose them with coconut oil and rub it in. they were all gone by the next day eggs and all! They look a little weird and oily but its worth it.

 

[stargirl]

What a horrible experience!
One other option not mentioned here is frontline. It's not officially licenced for poultry but it is effective against all biting lice & mites. Most people suggest using half a cat-dose per bird - a drop on the back of he neck, one under each wing & one at the tail. If the infestation is as bad as it sounds, it might be worth considering.

Best of luck!

 

[leadwolf1]

I would treat everyone. Vacuum the car.

Don't worry about yourself, they might crawl on you but, you can get the little critters

I would empty my coop, clean and powder everything with the sevin. I do this every time I clean my coop. Sprinkle in corners and on roosts. All the little nooks and crannies.

Treat everyone with the sevin. That is your best bet to get all the bugs.

I'm glad she is just wet. I think she looks tired and scared. Treat her and give her tlc and see how she comes along. Myself, I would never buy a grown bird from anyone.

 

[puglady]

I've not had the issue with eyes, sorry. The pillow case sounds like a good idea, I just usually shake it out but it sounds like its much less messy. I'll try it next week on Sweetness. I also have to put a bit on my fingertips and rub under her chin as this is where I found the initial issue. Hopefully someone with a crested breed can chime in here as I imagine its pretty important to get worked pretty well into their crest but keep it out of their eyes.....

 

[Silkie75]

I agree puglady, the pillow case does sound like a fabulous idea (thanks leadwolf1). I just got back from Tractor Supply and I have the Sevin. I'm going to start with just that. I do have coconut oil, but I'm going to try the Sevin, as it is strictly a pest killer. I'll do all of the birds too. AND the coop. I agree leadwolf1, she does look tired and scared, I hope I can help her. The only reason we bought grown birds yesterday is bc my experience buying them at 2 days old left me with 5 cockerels and 2 pullets- when I "planned" on only having at max one rooster. But at least they are all healthy!! So trust me, this is the last time I will be buying ANY grown birds- I've learned my lesson. I'd rather deal with ordering 2 day old chicks and get some cockerels (and give away/sell) then have to deal with this. Or maybe my girls will hatch some little ones next year! I feel so bad for these 2 out in the garage separated and by themselves.

 

[leadwolf1]

Once they are treated, I'm not sure it would hurt much to put them together. Were they from the same person?

 

[Silkie75]

OK- the 2 in the garage are treated! All of their bedding is in the trash and the trash is out by the curb. I put Sevin all around the inside the cage and around the outside- then put pine shavings on the floor with a dusting of Sevin too. The birds are pretty much covered with it. I avoided the eyes. They were both so good and patient. Leadwolf1, they came from different breeders. UGH. Makes it even worse, huh? Boy did I learn my lesson! #2 (the one with the eggs on her beard) has a lot of pests on her body. I saw about 7 in the 30 seconds l looked. #1 has some. I saw 2. I'm not sure, but I "think" she got them from #2. I feel bad bc they are alone, but since they are from different breeders, I'm fearful to put them together. I also bought electrolyte and vitamin supplement powder to put in their water. I've heard of people putting pet grade DE in chicken food to get rid of some inside parasites. Don't know much about it though.

I'll have to do my coop with my original 4 tomorrow as I have to pick someone up at the airport shortly. But I'll do it first thing in the morning and gut out the ENTIRE coop. Funny thing is, I JUST did this Saturday, the day before the show, so they could come home nice and clean and to a nice clean coop. Oh well. lol. I only put DE in on Saturday though. At least now I have Sevin!