I don't know what to do!

[Chicken Frenzie]

Hi guys. I am Chicken Frenzie, and I currently own a flock of 13. Awhile ago [Maybe 2 months?] we saw an ad on craigslist for two silkie bantams. My mom has really wanted some- and these were babies. So, we went and got them. About 3 weeks ago, one of the babies died. No ideas how how why. Now, I've noticed theres things on the silkie. I don't know what they are, but I'm gussing eggs. That freaked me out. Now, I think the silkie has mites. Theres yellow bugs, very tiny. She's not loosing feathers- and I don't see any scabs on her, but it's freaking me out. We bought some stuff the BYC'ers suggested, and my mom is going to try to do it today. I've checked all my other chickens, I see nothing on them thank goodness. I was talking to my mom about a half an hour ago, and I'm not sure if I did the right thing.
Mom- Is something bugging you?
Me- Yeah. Mom, you really love doe, right? (doe is the silkie)
Mom- I love her so much!
Me- Oh....
Mom- What's wrong?
Me- Well, doe is freaking me out. I saw the bugs again, and I'm not sure if I want her.
So, if the powder stuff does not work, I said I wanted to give doe to someone else.
I really love her too- but I've had my other flock for 3 years and love them to bits. What do I do?

 

[86121]

Quote:
Get some ivermecton from your local feed store, and put a few drops on the back of her neck. Make sure it touches skin.
The bugs are probably Mites, and you need to treat all of your birds, clean the bedding and coop in order to help prevent them from coming back.
Its no big deal really, but they can be nasty and suck the life from a bird.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Pale yellow, actually sounds like lice. You can use Sevin dust and dust her whole body. In seven days repeat - this will kill any nits (baby lice) who have hatched since your first dusting.


You can also bathe her. Use dawn dishwashing soap, suds her up, massage the areas where you see eggs, and let her sit a few minutes, rinse well and then use your hair dryer on low to dry her. While drying - keep a hand by her body, in front of the blow dryer so you do not burn her ---- even on low, the heat coming out can burn the skin.



If she has been in with your other chickens - you will want to dust them also. The lice move very quickly and you may not see one or two on a bird.


here are a couple good informative links:

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html




This on is a PDF with lots of great pictures:

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

Ok. Thanks. We're going to try to dust her today. But they aren't pale yellow. Actually, they're deep shade of yellow. But oh well, better to be safe than sorry. We're just confused because it says you need dust bags or something?

 

[maybejoey]

Either lice or mites, I think lice.

Hope Doe gets better.

 

[Chicken Frenzie]

Thanks

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

Some folks put the Sevin dust into a sock or a nylon........using that like a powder puff to apply the Sevin dust.


I probably waste a lot, but I just sprinkle right from the can - or a smaller container as I have small hands - directly onto the bird. A bit in the vent area - and I kind of rub it around and thru their feathers with my hand. A bit under the wings, and if I think there is some on their head (they - lice - really like beards on birds) then with my fingertips I spread some around their head. Always being careful not to get any in their eyes, or for me to breathe too much of it.

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I agree it sounds like lice.

HorsefeathersNV gave excellent advice about dusting all your chickens.

Be sure to repeat as ohioline.edu says otherwise they will come back.

AFTER you kill the bugs with the second treatment I would try coconut oil to dissolve the nits as this poster recommends (but I have not seen lice myself- only mites).
https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=353330&p=1
see post #10, 12, 20

(You see, the eggs are cemented on, and even after they hatch will remain stuck on there even if the bugs and eggs are all dead.)

Now the pour on medications might work if they are biting lice, or if there is bleeding. But a lot of the lice only eat feathers/dander and such, and the pour on medications will not kill that kind I have read. If the blood has medication in it but they are not eating the blood you need dust.

 

[NanaLantana]

I remember using 'flea powder' on my dogs many years ago - it was actually Sevin dust - I'd dust the whole dog up to the collar, then put her into a pillowcase! I'd hold the dog/pillowcase for about 1/2hour. Maybe that is what dust bag you're talking about?

 

[lotzahenz]

I have always used a Knee High panty hose for the dusting sack. It just makes a finer dust, but is not necessary at all. You can buy dusters too, but not really needed, just use my hand on chickens.