Rescued hen has tiny white bugs. Help

[azygous]

Here is another thread where the OP has a chicken with white bugs. https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/small-white-bugs-on-chicken-what-are-they.1257173/page-2 It was suggested the white bugs are immature lice.

 

[CalBickieMomma]

Poor girl! Good thing you found her. Sounds like some good advice you're getting and I hope she heals soon! The fact she was chatting with your flock sounds like a good sign, though. And yes, getting all the grime off her is a good place to start. Good luck to you both!

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I would start by giving this hen a proper bath. Use warm water and baby shampoo, wash head to toe, removing all dirt, poop, scum, scabs, and anything else obviously not part of the chicken. Rinse well. Since she's in the shower, I'd wash her there, then wrap her in a big warm towel fresh from the dryer, then finish by blow drying.

This will enable you to see better what you're dealing with, whether or not there are any festering wounds.

I agree. Start with a total wash up, the bath will also kill a few of the critters on her. The OP will also be able to see what "comes off" in the bath water as well.
Wet feathers make it easy to look at skin and wounds this way she can make note of what else needs to be addressed. Photos too please
Permethrin based poultry spray or dust is the easiest things to get at the local TSC. Neosporin can be used on any cuts/wounds.

Hope this girl recovers quickly.

 

[cbain0432]

I agree. Start with a total wash up, the bath will also kill a few of the critters on her. The OP will also be able to see what "comes off" in the bath water as well.
Wet feathers make it easy to look at skin and wounds this way she can make note of what else needs to be addressed. Photos too please
Permethrin based poultry spray or dust is the easiest things to get at the local TSC. Neosporin can be used on any cuts/wounds.

Hope this girl recovers quickly.

 

[cbain0432]

She is doing a lot better. Almost a week into this. I got the lice dust. Treated my flock twice. New girl 3 times. No bugs now, but will keep checking for a while. Feathers are starting to come back slowly. Her poop is back to normal.

 

[cbain0432]

If i put new girl (Brave), on ground, pecking begins, rooster mounts, a bit hostile. But if she sits in my lap, or on the bin, nobody bothers her. They will even jump up with her, eat her food and hop down. No aggression. Put her on the ground, immediate aggression. Put her back on bin, immediately no aggression.

Nice and clean. No more odor. Comb still healing. Nursing left leg still. I can't see any open leg wound.

 

[DobieLover]

If i put new girl (Brave), on ground, pecking begins, rooster mounts, a bit hostile. But if she sits in my lap, or on the bin, nobody bothers her. They will even jump up with her, eat her food and hop down. No aggression. Put her on the ground, immediate aggression. Put her back on bin, immediately no aggression.

You've done a wonderful job helping this girl heal. What a transformation!

You now need to keep her in a "look don't touch" situation for a couple of weeks before allowing her to intermingle with your flock. It will take a long time for her to integrate as she is a lone hen interloping in your flock. But the rooster may very well help with the integration process. Good luck with her.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I'm glad she is doing better!
Some aggression is going to happen when integrating a new bird to your flock. Take it slow and you may want to put her in a separate cage/run where the others can see her but can't get to her so they become familiar. Even with that, you will likely see a bit of picking.

 

[cmom]

It will take awhile but she will be beautiful again. Keep up the good work. Good luck and have fun...

 

[cbain0432]

We're a week into it. New girl (Brave) is allowing my girls and cockerel to eat and walk by her. She still hides under my feet when she's scared, but no longer running away. She's allowing my girls to touch her. My girls are still pullets until after winter. Brave acts older than my chickens.