Please Help! Am I Fighting A Losing Battle?

[GimiiwanAnaakwad]

I was given the hens a few weeks ago. Two of the are doing fine. However one hen is floppy. I noticed her scales in her feet were heavy and thick. So I thought maybe it was that scaley mite. So I've been soaking her feet in Epson salt and covering her legs and feet with bag balm. She has never taken a dust bath so I have her one today. I noticed that she has small orange mites on her body last night. I'm thinking about spending the last of my money on DE to dust her. She will eat and drink if they are right in front of her. I'm putting Apple cider vinegar in the water. But she is still weak and her comb is pale. Am I fighting a losing battle? She can barely walk.

 

[GimiiwanAnaakwad]

My heart is totally breaking I feel so sorry for her.

 

[FlyingNunFarm]

I was given the hens a few weeks ago. Two of the are doing fine. However one hen is floppy. I noticed her scales in her feet were heavy and thick. So I thought maybe it was that scaley mite. So I've been soaking her feet in Epson salt and covering her legs and feet with bag balm. She has never taken a dust bath so I have her one today. I noticed that she has small orange mites on her body last night. I'm thinking about spending the last of my money on DE to dust her. She will eat and drink if they are right in front of her. I'm putting Apple cider vinegar in the water. But she is still weak and her comb is pale. Am I fighting a losing battle? She can barely walk.

DE won’t do much for her and in such fine powder form could cause more harm then good. I’m not against DE I just think it has its place.
If you are tight on cash I would get the permethrin spray and treat with that.
@Eggcessive @KikisGirls @Wyorp Rock
What’s that spray? I can’t remember the name.

 

[Pyxis]

DE won't do anything for the leg mites or the mites she has on her.

It sounds like she might be anemic and weak from the mites feasting on her. What I would do is buy some Ivermectin Pour On and dose her with that, a couple drops to the back of her neck. That will kill the leg mites and the body mites. You might also want to pick up some permethrin or Sevin dust and dust her with one of those. That will kill the mites she has on her body.

You'll want to treat the other two as well because if she is infested, so are they.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Are you in a hot climate? That could exacerbate the problem. Also, how old are they?

 

[Kiki]

Spray all birds AND coop.
Must treat coop too.

DE won’t do much for her and in such fine powder form could cause more harm then good. I’m not against DE I just think it has its place.
If you are tight on cash I would get the permethrin spray and treat with that.
@Eggcessive @KikisGirls @Wyorp Rock
What’s that spray? I can’t remember the name.

Martin's PERMETHRIN spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• 6
• flies lice mites permethrin

Martin's Horse & Stable Permethrin Spray

• Kiki
• Mar 22, 2018
• flies lice mites permethrin

Permethrin

 

[dunnmom]

I agree with the above comments. X1000. Also about cleaning and treating the coop and run. Natural preventions and treatments sometimes don't cut the mustard, as much as I hate to say that. I hope she'll come around for you, and maybe a vitamin boost will help as well.

 

[snow5164]

I’m not heartless, but sometimes you have to cut your losses and stop buying stuff.

I used to try to save everyone a few years ago ,now I decide what are the chances that this will ever be a healthy hen again?

Just a thought ,good luck this is hard on you I’m sure

 

[GimiiwanAnaakwad]

Are you in a hot climate? That could exacerbate the problem. Also, how old are they?

 

[GimiiwanAnaakwad]

I actually don't know how old they are. I'm guessing at least 3 or 4 years old. And yes it has been horridly hot 104° +. I've been trying to keep her in the shade but I often find her laying flopped out lying in the direct sun.