I used too much DE in the coop and one of my hens is breathing badly

[Soon2BChixMom]

If it is going to take 4-5 days to get it, can you find some flea spray somewhere? She won't make it much longer.
What I meant by soak her is to drench her skin with the spray. You can dry her with a hair dryer if you think she might be too wet.
How is she doing now? Were you able to get to a farm store?

 

[dawg53]

Regarding spirochetes in the blood:
Bloodwork would need to be done in order to determine the amount of spirochetes in the blood.
Antibiotics such as tylosin and tetracyclines are effective in eliminating spirochetes. However if there is a high amount of spirochetes in the blood and an antibiotic is given, the massive die off would kill a chicken.
The antibiotics would only be effective if there were low or medium amount of spirochetes in the blood. A vet and lab work can make that determination.

 

[serama24]

Thank you for all the replies, I really appreciate the advice and help you've given me.

I ended up taking her to the vets because I was pretty sure she was going to die without any help, though I thought most likely they'd just offer to put her to sleep. However she ended up dying whilst being checked over on the table. I was very upset which was embarrassing, but she was a much-loved pet.

My other chickens don't have anywhere near as many mites, but they're a little thinner than normal. I'm going to a feed store in a couple of hours to see if I can find a horse fly spray with the permethrin. I have the poultry shield and nutri drop coming tomorrow as well. Is there something I can give them to help them gain back some weight? Right now I'm going to thoroughly clean the coop whilst they're out dust-bathing in the sun.

..I just wanted to share some photos of Shinxi too, I hope that's ok. I feel so silly but she was a lovely hen. Is 8 fairly old for a backyard chicken?

Thanks again,

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Dont feel silly. Chickens are full of character and make us love them. Sorry for your loss.

 

[dawg53]

I'm sorry for your loss. Also consider worming your birds with flubenvet, it's a very good wormer.
Give your birds scrambled eggs mixed with buttermilk or plain boiled white rice mixed with buttermilk.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I'm sorry you loss your hen. They do endear themselves to us.

X2 Dawg53
I forgot....you are in the UK and can get flubenvet. It is a good all around wormer.

8 years is a ripe old age. And, often when a bird's immune system is compromised by old age, they will become more infested with parasites.

It was likely her age that contributed to her infestation which further contributed to her frailty.

It is good to treat the whole flock for both external and internal parasites now since you've got signs and give treats mentioned by Dawg.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

A hundred or more years ago hucksters stood a-top soap boxes on the street corners and hawked patent medicine snake oil that was full of whisky, mercury, iodine, opium, lead, honey, sugar, spices, and everything else that you could think of.

One of the biggest was a teething preparation called Hatticall. It was 70% (140 proof) whisky, some spices and honey, and the rest was opium. The directions said to give a crying baby 4 tablespoonfuls twice a day and your teething infant would sleep all night long.

Today the same hucksters and petty criminals push "MITE DUST" in the form of Diatomaceous Earth. People on this forum have reported adding Food Grade Diatomaceous Earth to their nest boxes until there was an inch or more of the stuff in there but fat and sassy RED MITES were still happily crawling around in the stuff.

 

[Birdsong 82]

Diatomaceous earth is a good product but only for certain things. Around the chickens is not one of those. On the ground in the garden as long as you’re wearing a dust mask when placing it it’s fantastic. I was told once that the food grade was originally made to mix in the bottom of their feet Ben’s to avoid bugs getting in them But it’s for large scale Farms with hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of pounds of feed
When they get older it is harder for their bodies to fight things off. Just like humans. Don’t be embarrassed with how upset you are. I lost my bunny well he was laying on the vets table. And I couldn’t speak for about 10 minutes because I was sobbing so hard. It was a little less embarrassing Wentz three nurses started comforting me with tears in their eyes to
I think it amazes everybody who owns a chicken how much your heart can grow fond of that little winged creature. I’m so sorry for your loss

 

[EggWalrus]

I don't know about the u k but here in the states, we have lice shampoo for head lice and pubic crabs at all pharmacies and general stores. It contains permethrin and should kill the mess out of mites. Just follow directions on the label.

Her being 8 years old, is like 80 in human years. She has been a friend to you and loved by you longer than most birds will ever experience. She has probably seen and done things few chickens get to. Her passing one day is gonna hurt bad, but try to remember that she filled a full life, was loved, and will be remembered.
I hope she gets well soon.

 

[Robert G]

So sorry for your loss. It's easy to get to attached to them especially when you raise them from baby chicks. Mine have just turned a year and a half and they have experienced so much and taught me as well.