So my little white Silkie, whom I call CoolWhip, was shaking her head all day today. So I went to inspect and lo and FREAKING behold mites and lice INFESTATION!!!
So I did a little searchin on the BYC and found a really good solution that I could treat them with ASAP.
Adams Flea and Tick Dip!
This is how it works (well works so far for me at least):
-Get a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with warm water.
-Put about 4 cap fulls into the water. This is way lower than the recommend per gallon. I didn't feel safe using a strong dose on the label because these chicks are still young.
-Dunk the chick/en in the water for about 30 to 60 sec. I noticed that just dunking them in the water didn't work. You actually have to splash them up and down and get into the feathers. If you skip the splashing part it just won't work. The lice and mites will just go closer to the skin.
***(Make sure you do not dunk their heads in the water!! They will drink the solution if there beak even gets close!! It can and will damage organs especially the eyes if not careful. Even with this weak of a solution.)***
-Take a old blanket or towel and put it on the ground for the chick when it comes out of the water. Wrap the chick up for a few mins to get off excess water.
-Take a blower dryer and start drying the chick/en off. Make sure you're about 5 to 8 inches away from the chick. Blow dryers get hot (obviously) but this always bears repeating. When blow drying them they should start to calm down (if they're acting wild) because they will notice that this is actually a nice experience. It's warm and the sound is actually pretty comforting. I always start at the neck and move my way down to the tail. When this is all dry flip them over onto their back, that's if they will let you. Mine little CoolWhip Just laid there and enjoyed it. I wish I would have taken pics but I was just in a rush to give them some comfort. Make sure they are completely dry unless it's a sunny day.
**Remember there are other options. Also remember that they will have to be treated again in about 10 to 14 days with a dusting.
That is the whole process! Unfortunately there just isn't an organic method that I've read of that seems like it would work instantly. Which I'm sure that I didn't get all of the mites in one go. This is why tomorrow they will be dusted with poultry duster.
I plan on posting pics of the Marans chicks getting their treatment tomorrow afternoon. I will also post how to clean and disinfect the coop, run, and food and water dishes. Even though the Silkies and Marans were not outside I decided that I need to start taking more precautions because this was so sudden.
Take my advice CLEAN THOSE COOPS, INSPECT THOSE BIRDS, AND PROSPER.
I can't believe I'm such a jerk for not checking earlier. So how I thought that I was invincible......
I really hope this helps most of you with your mite and lice problems.
Pics will come tomorrow.
Good night all. I don't think I'm going to sleep good. I might have night mares about man eating lice and mites that eat you from the inside out.
So I did a little searchin on the BYC and found a really good solution that I could treat them with ASAP.
Adams Flea and Tick Dip!
This is how it works (well works so far for me at least):
-Get a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with warm water.
-Put about 4 cap fulls into the water. This is way lower than the recommend per gallon. I didn't feel safe using a strong dose on the label because these chicks are still young.
-Dunk the chick/en in the water for about 30 to 60 sec. I noticed that just dunking them in the water didn't work. You actually have to splash them up and down and get into the feathers. If you skip the splashing part it just won't work. The lice and mites will just go closer to the skin.
***(Make sure you do not dunk their heads in the water!! They will drink the solution if there beak even gets close!! It can and will damage organs especially the eyes if not careful. Even with this weak of a solution.)***
-Take a old blanket or towel and put it on the ground for the chick when it comes out of the water. Wrap the chick up for a few mins to get off excess water.
-Take a blower dryer and start drying the chick/en off. Make sure you're about 5 to 8 inches away from the chick. Blow dryers get hot (obviously) but this always bears repeating. When blow drying them they should start to calm down (if they're acting wild) because they will notice that this is actually a nice experience. It's warm and the sound is actually pretty comforting. I always start at the neck and move my way down to the tail. When this is all dry flip them over onto their back, that's if they will let you. Mine little CoolWhip Just laid there and enjoyed it. I wish I would have taken pics but I was just in a rush to give them some comfort. Make sure they are completely dry unless it's a sunny day.
**Remember there are other options. Also remember that they will have to be treated again in about 10 to 14 days with a dusting.
That is the whole process! Unfortunately there just isn't an organic method that I've read of that seems like it would work instantly. Which I'm sure that I didn't get all of the mites in one go. This is why tomorrow they will be dusted with poultry duster.
I plan on posting pics of the Marans chicks getting their treatment tomorrow afternoon. I will also post how to clean and disinfect the coop, run, and food and water dishes. Even though the Silkies and Marans were not outside I decided that I need to start taking more precautions because this was so sudden.
Take my advice CLEAN THOSE COOPS, INSPECT THOSE BIRDS, AND PROSPER.
I can't believe I'm such a jerk for not checking earlier. So how I thought that I was invincible......
I really hope this helps most of you with your mite and lice problems.
Pics will come tomorrow.
Good night all. I don't think I'm going to sleep good. I might have night mares about man eating lice and mites that eat you from the inside out.
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