I stopped in to read up on your advice about mites/lice, and how to treat for them. Two days ago, I bought (rescued) three Standard Cochins. I looked them over while in their coop, and didn't see any problems with eyes or nostrils, and the feet looked pretty good from what I could tell. I will admit, however, that the coop was pretty nasty so I knew these rescues would have to be quarantined. When I got home, I put them in my little Infirmary coop in the garage, and gave them 24 hours of solitary to calm down. I went out today to get a closer inspection. The Columbian Cochin is a mess. When I looked at her vent, it's moist in the inside, but dry around the rim. She has a constant flow of tiny tiny beige/white bugs running in and out of her vent. Her belly area is pretty raw which I can only guess could be her picking and scratching for some relief. Added to that, she was on one of the bottom rungs of the roosts, and was not clean at all. The Silver-laced is not as bad. I only saw a few bugs (lice) around her vent. She has a dry rim on her vent, but inside the vent is moist. The Black Cochin was in the best shape of the three, and was also on the top rung of the roost. She's dirty, but I didn't see bugs (although I'm sure if one has them they all have them.) She has a perfect vent, and her feathers are shiny.
The man I got them from is a breeder, but he focuses on two projects (blue Cochins and calico Cochins). These other Cochins were in the smaller coop which would have been okay I guess, but as I was loading these girls up, he told me that two days prior he had sold 25+ Cochin roosters from that flock for meat. (deep sigh) So there had been 50+ Cochins crammed into that little, dark, poorly-ventilated space.
They will have a much much better life at the Pampered Chicken Coop, but I don't know where to start. I've never had chooks in such a terrible state. I've read what you've said about the Permethrin spray, and what others have said about Sevin and Ivermectin. but before I can use any of those treatments, they need a good cleaning to remove the caked on mud and feces, as well as the cat piss stench.
It is January 7th, and currently 8 degrees in southeastern Ohio, but that's sure to break within a few days. Should I go ahead and dust them now, and then in a few days give them a nice long soaking bath with the whole spa treatment (hair dryer and camping out in the house crate)? If so, would you suggest they get the Permethrin spray treatment before they go back out to the Infirmary? The Columbian is particularly cranky, and I think it's because she's so miserable.
I apologize for such a long post. Thanks for any help or suggestions.
~~ PC
