Penguin Stance and Mites

[Rainbowdahling]

Hey all, I have a 3-year-old Sapphire Olive Egger who is not doing so well.

I noticed that the last few days she was standing oddly. After seeing her stumble and be attacked by another hen, I did some googling and realized it was the penguin stance, and I thought she might be eggbound. I brought her in the house and soaked her in the sink, and this morning finally convinced her to eat a crushed Tums mixed with some scrambled eggs. She did poop once last night after her bath and sometime during the night. Both were runny, black and white.

When I went to clean out the kennel I kept her in, I realized the towel was COVERED in what I believe are red mites. Could the mite infestation be what's causing her penguin stance? What do I do next? I sprayed some Mana Poultry Protector on her and cleaned out and around the kennel with it. I'm planning on running to the store and getting some Gardstar Garden & Poultry Dust to put on her as well. Is there anything else I need to do for her? I saw some posts about topical ivermectin?

I know I'll also need to clean out the coop and treat all of the chickens.

Thanks for your help!

 

[alinas2010]

Oh no, I’m sorry she isn’t feeling well. In my experience, a hen with a bad mite infestation may certainly stand that way. One of mine had a mite issue and would sit poofed up with her tail down, she also stopped eating as much. Egg production may be decreased with a heavy mite infestation.

Mites take a large toll when they really get a hold of a chicken, so this could very well be her issue. However, if she is still laying eggs, it’s not a bad idea to get her some human calcium citrate plus D3 vitamins and administer 300-500mg right into her mouth. She should be able to swallow the whole pill with no problem. This would help with egg binding.

That seems like a significant infestation, it could absolutely be causing her to not feel well and be picked on by the others.

You will need to treat the whole flock and thoroughly clean the coop, nesting material and as much litter as possible.

Red mites and northern fowl mites have the same treatment, so regardless of what you have on your hands, get something started asap. I like to use a permethrin powder to “powder” my chickens, but some people prefer the liquid kind to “dip” their chickens.

I can’t advise you much on the “dip” method, but for the powder, you would need to get yourself some permethrin poultry dust most farm stores should have it. Dump some into a sock and wearing gloves and a mask, use that to poof all the chickens down really well. Work the powder down onto the skin thoroughly, focusing heavily on the vent area, neck and under the wings. I find it easier to treat them at night when they’re roosting, but with her I might immediately start. Powder again in 5-7 days and keep repeating every 5-7 days until you don’t see any mites on them at all.

With her level of infestation, you might consider removing your gloves, shoes and clothing right at the door of your house and washing or disposing of everything appropriately.

I know you said you know this already, I’m just trying to be thoroughly helpful, sorry for the repetition. You will need to treat every chicken and remove all bedding, litter, nesting material from the coop (I also do the run). Do not reuse it; burn or dispose of it. Then you’ll need to spray the coop down well with a permethrin spray before adding fresh bedding. Get all the nooks and crannies very well.

Don’t bring her inside your house if you can help it. These guys can infest a house, too. But I would try to keep a close eye on her, it’s doesn’t look like she’s doing well. Her beak looks like it needs a little trimming, too.

Here is more information on both types of mites:

Northern fowl mites you should be able to see anytime of day on the chicken: https://poultrydvm.com/condition/northern-fowl-mites



Red fowl mites tend to hide during the day in the coop and come out to feast on the chicken at night:
https://poultrydvm.com/condition/poultry-red-mites

 

[Rainbowdahling]

Oh no, I’m sorry she isn’t feeling well. In my experience, a hen with a bad mite infestation may certainly stand that way. One of mine had a mite issue and would sit poofed up with her tail down, she also stopped eating as much. Egg production may be decreased with a heavy mite infestation.

Mites take a large toll when they really get a hold of a chicken, so this could very well be her issue. However, if she is still laying eggs, it’s not a bad idea to get her some human calcium citrate plus D3 vitamins and administer 300-500mg right into her mouth. She should be able to swallow the whole pill with no problem. This would help with egg binding.

That seems like a significant infestation, it could absolutely be causing her to not feel well and be picked on by the others.

You will need to treat the whole flock and thoroughly clean the coop, nesting material and as much litter as possible.

Red mites and northern fowl mites have the same treatment, so regardless of what you have on your hands, get something started asap. I like to use a permethrin powder to “powder” my chickens, but some people prefer the liquid kind to “dip” their chickens.

I can’t advise you much on the “dip” method, but for the powder, you would need to get yourself some permethrin poultry dust most farm stores should have it. Dump some into a sock and wearing gloves and a mask, use that to poof all the chickens down really well. Work the powder down onto the skin thoroughly, focusing heavily on the vent area, neck and under the wings. I find it easier to treat them at night when they’re roosting, but with her I might immediately start. Powder again in 5-7 days and keep repeating every 5-7 days until you don’t see any mites on them at all.

With her level of infestation, you might consider removing your gloves, shoes and clothing right at the door of your house and washing or disposing of everything appropriately.

I know you said you know this already, I’m just trying to be thoroughly helpful, sorry for the repetition. You will need to treat every chicken and remove all bedding, litter, nesting material from the coop (I also do the run). Do not reuse it; burn or dispose of it. Then you’ll need to spray the coop down well with a permethrin spray before adding fresh bedding. Get all the nooks and crannies very well.

Don’t bring her inside your house if you can help it. These guys can infest a house, too. But I would try to keep a close eye on her, it’s doesn’t look like she’s doing well. Her beak looks like it needs a little trimming, too.

Here is more information on both types of mites:

Northern fowl mites you should be able to see anytime of day on the chicken: https://poultrydvm.com/condition/northern-fowl-mites



Red fowl mites tend to hide during the day in the coop and come out to feast on the chicken at night:
https://poultrydvm.com/condition/poultry-red-mites

Thank you so much!!

I didn't realize they could infect the house, I will get her moved into a kennel in the run instead. It's snowing here and below freezing, so I didn't want to put her out in the cold after I gave a soak last night and she was still wet.

I bought some permitherin dust, so I'll get her dusted ASAP. I'm hoping the weather clears so I can get everyone else and the coop treated.

I really appreciate your response!

 

[alinas2010]

Thank you so much!!

I didn't realize they could infect the house, I will get her moved into a kennel in the run instead. It's snowing here and below freezing, so I didn't want to put her out in the cold after I gave a soak last night and she was still wet.

I bought some permitherin dust, so I'll get her dusted ASAP. I'm hoping the weather clears so I can get everyone else and the coop treated.

I really appreciate your response!

You’re welcome. I’m sorry you’re going through this with her, I know how overwhelming mites can be. I hope she pulls through okay and the problem resolves quickly.

I don’t blame you at all for keeping her inside after a soak with the temps. She probably appreciated the break from the cold. I found that it seemed like my chicken with a heavier infestation struggled with not feeling well and keeping warm with mites. She is a bit of an older hen, however, so that could’ve been a part of it.

Here is some helpful advice from @rosemarythyme about treating/avoiding mites inside your house should you need it. Hopefully it won’t be an issue:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/mite-infestation-starting-new-post.1630760/#post-27847239

 

[Eggcessive]

Permethrin dust is good to treat the mites on the bird. They cannhatch every 5-7 days so check her again in 7 days in case she needs another treatment. Gordons or Martins Permethrin 10 liquid concentrate, which has to be diluted in water, and used with a spray bottle or garden sprayer is sold by TSC. It makes gallons of spray to treat the coop, once all bedding is removed. Mix 5 ml per quart of water.