HELP! My chicks head is covered in diatomaceous earth!

[CuddlelyMamaHen]

I was giving her a dust bath when the poor thing got her head covered in diatomaceous earth and can't breathe very well what do I do!

 

[nuthatched]

Wipe it off with a wash cloth?
Please do not use Diotomaeceous Earth around you or your birds it's a respiratory/eye irritant and can cause severe lung issue for both of you. It is nontoxic, but it is not safe.

 

[CuddlelyMamaHen]

Wipe it off with a wash cloth?
Please do not use Diotomaeceous Earth around you or your birds it's a respiratory/eye irritant and can cause severe lung issue for both of you. It is nontoxic, but it is not safe.

I bought a special kind just for chickens

 

[CuddlelyMamaHen]

Would it hurt her if I rinsed her off

 

[CuddlelyMamaHen]

Wipe it off with a wash cloth?
Please do not use Diotomaeceous Earth around you or your birds it's a respiratory/eye irritant and can cause severe lung issue for both of you. It is nontoxic, but it is not safe.

I also tried that but she still can't breathe very well

 

[nuthatched]

I bought a special kind just for chickens

Doesn't matter, its just a marketing ploy, it's not safe for you or them to breathe. If you are careful, you can rinse it off.

 

[nuthatched]

I also tried that but she still can't breathe very well

It might have gotten in her respiratory system, she likely will have asthma symptoms for awhile but hopefully she'll pull through.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

When you have time, please post photos of the chick and her face.

Does she have any of the DE in her nostrils? If she does, then slightly dampen a qtip and swab what you out of the nostrils.

Move her to fresh air.

I would not wash her if she's in respiratory distress, bathing a stressed bird can send them over the edge.