Sad puffed bantam

[Eblo]

My porcelain bantam is lethargic and just sitting by herself and closing her eyes. She did eat and drink when I first let the flock out. Everyone is leaving her alone. What should I do?? Pictures really show what is going on

 

[ChickenCanoe]

The problem could be any number of dozens of things. How long has she been sick? How old is she? It is usually best to separate a sick bird from the rest of the flock to prevent infecting the others.
What state are you in? Be prepared to send a carcass to your state poultry diagnostic lab. They may send you a FedEx label for shipping.
This place may also be able to help before it dies.
https://www.vetdna.com/test-type/avian-bird

 

[Eblo]

The problem could be any number of dozens of things. How long has she been sick? How old is she? It is usually best to separate a sick bird from the rest of the flock to prevent infecting the others.
What state are you in? Be prepared to send a carcass to your state poultry diagnostic lab. They may send you a FedEx label for shipping.
This place may also be able to help before it dies.
https://www.vetdna.com/test-type/avian-bird

I just discovered lice on her!!! I have never had this happen! I am buying the powder and plan to bathe everyone.

 

[Eggcessive]

She looks sick. Lice probably isn’t her primary issue. How old is she? Does she lay eggs? Her tail is down. What do her poops look like? How does her crop feel in her right upper chest—empty or full, hard, doughy, or puffy? Can you give her some electrolytes with vitamins or some Poultry NutriDrench, and get her drinking? Some mushy chicken feed with water and a bit of egg would be good for her.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

For lice, it is a good thing you are treating all birds but you'll have to completely clean out the coop and nests, treating those areas and installing new bedding and nest material.
Sometimes a simple thing like allowing dust baths can preclude this issue.

 

[charlotte-and-the-bees]

If you can separate her I would do that, just to keep an eye on her. See how she’s pooping, eating, and drinking. Like others said it could be a number of things but isolating will help to prevent illness spreading and allow you to monitor for possible diagnosis.

 

[topochico225]

Is she laying yet? She looks like she’s standing funny.

 

[Eggcessive]

What are you getting to treat for the lice? Permethrin spray or dust is very good to use, and it can be applied at least twice at 10 day intervals to get the live lice and the newly hatched eggs before they can reproduce. Here is a good article about treatments:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

Have you checked her for egg binding?

 

[Eblo]

What are you getting to treat for the lice? Permethrin spray or dust is very good to use, and it can be applied at least twice at 10 day intervals to get the live lice and the newly hatched eggs before they can reproduce. Here is a good article about treatments:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

Have you checked her for egg binding?

So this bantam hasn’t laid yet. She is about 8 months old. I separated her yesterday and put her under the heat lamp and she seemed more energetic and was cooing when I checked on her. She has a sweet personality. I will keep her separated after her bath so I can give her electrolytes. Will monitor her separately.

Here is my lice plan. My flock is 14 mixed bantams. I am waiting for the powder and DE to come from Amazon today. The baths will happen before that.

Step 1: Everyone gets a bath in Dawn and then rinsed in ACV/water. I may use a blowdryer on some since we are in Ohio and it is about 40 today.

Step 2: while the baths are happening, the coop will be cleaned with vinegar and maybe bleach? Will have the day to “air out” before they go back to bed. No one is laying eggs right now so they don’t need a nest box.

Step 3. Tomorrow: Create a DE mixture of 6 cups DE to 25 pounds play sand and let them bathe.

Step 4: in 10 days, use the powder on each bird and clean coop again. I also bought a spray with clove oil that is non-toxic to spray periodically this week, esp on the the feather footed ones.

**Hopefully you all read this and can comment your thoughts!

 

[ChickenCanoe]

What is the powder?