Plan of Action-Silkie infested with lice

[X2Farm]

So I picked up a free Silkie a few days ago. She's a beautiful blue partridge. Poor girl was the only chicken, caged and absolutely infested with lice (eggs at the base of every feather shaft I could see, even head)

So I wormed and dusted her as soon as we got home, and she's in isolation for 30 days anyways. This was Friday.

I'd like to get her bathed, but I'm not sure if its too soon after working to make sure all the lice eggs are dead, and how to wash her head/face area without getting water all up her nose? I've never had to bath a chicken before. I do know she's used to baths, as the former owner mentioned she had bathed her often, so for that, I'm thankful!!!

Would Dawn dish soap (just the regular formula, no scents or bleach or anything) be gentle enough?

 

[ladrholman]

I have had to bath a few chickens.. I usually just set them in the tub with a bit of water in the bottom. Not too much and use a cup or container to pour water over their head and body. That way i have good control. I would think the Dawn is good since that is what is used for wild animals after oil spills and such. Dry her well after and might have to blow dry a bit. Make sure she/he is warm till completely dry. They are better at drying themselves then I ever was. Good luck.

 

[Bat Cave Silkies]

I would definitely go ahead and bathe her----but use Adams dog shampoo, the one that also kills lice (available at Walmart). Don't use Dawn.....you'll strip her skin/feathers of all oil. To wash her crest (top of head), simply hold her upside down and carefully dip it in the bath water, shampoo thoroughly, then rinse. You'll need to blow dry her thoroughly before you put her back outside.

I'd also recommend that you dust her with Seven dust and apply Ivermectin every month to prevent future internal & external parasites.

 

[OHmamma]

Does Ivermectin effect hatchability of eggs?

 

[X2Farm]

Ladr and Bat, thanks for the tips. I do appreciate it! I've got several blow driers, so she'll get fully dried off

Bat, I gotcha on the Adams.. we'll pick some up when we run to town shortly.

I gotta say, I have never seen a chicken so infested. I felt so awful for her and we got outta that place as quickly as possible. I've always got Ivomec (pour on) at hand, since it was one of the staples for the beef cows run on this property, so I did use that on her and dusted w/Sevin since she was so bad. I feared she would die, she seemed anemic, and extremely thin but has done VERY well. I don't see any creepy crawlies on her face anymore, and it looks like some of the egg clusters are drying up. I'll also have to clip her nails, they're all almost a full inch long and curled so her toes are sideways.

 

[X2Farm]

Quote:
I haven't found it to effect them when I used a batch for a test hatch in a new bator, but others might have

 

[dawg53]

I DO NOT recommend dusting with Sevin dust every month nor dosing with Ivermectin every month. Continual exposure to the carbaryl in Sevin can be detrimental to the chickens health, only dust after visually inspecting your chickens and seeing lice or mites. You will also have to dust their coop, redust again in 10 days. Redust the chickens in 10 days too, this will break the lice/mite lifecycle. http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html
Ivermectin is used for worming, that is its primary function. Anything else is secondary. Wormers are poisons designed to paralyze or kill worms. Too much of it will defintely harm and and possibly destroy the liver, eventual death. In a worming program, ivermectin could be used on a quarterly basis, at a minimum...but I do not recommend this neither due to eventual wormer resistance from overuse.

 

[X2Farm]

Quote:
I don't, and hadn't planned on it. I do keep a close eye on my birds, to keep ahead of any problem if I can. We usually dust with sulphur, as Sevin isn't good for the bee population (Thank You Bargain for that tip!) but it was what I had closest when we brought her home. I don't use Ivomec unless absolutely necessary, since everything in this property is pretty well immune/resistant due to the last 25yrs of Ivomec use in the cattle (not anymore though!)

Cheese Stick (as the kids have named her) is doing much better, she's actually showing signs of life instead of just being mopey and quiet and not feein well. She's standing upright and clucking!

I appreciate yalls input! Thanks!!!