- Jan 1, 2013
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I have been working on starting a flock and hatching my own eggs. A few weeks ago I purchase a trio of 9 month old silkies from a fellow BYC'er. They were shipped to me and arrived in good condition. I have had them about 3 weeks. Last week the smaller of the hens looked to be missing some feathers and on closer inspection one eye was crusted shut and she had clumps of what I think are lice eggs in her beard. I treated them all this past Thursday with Permethin (sp) dust. I started adding vitamins to the water also. I have been putting antibiotic eye ointment after warm compress and her eye is more than half open now. This morning I noticed the hen is not eating, shaking her head and lifting her legs in a slow motion sort of way. I took her in and gave her a warm bath to work out the nasty eggs in her beard and did not see any live mites or lice. I dried her with a hair dryer and have her in a spare room with measured food (chick feed mixed with hot water)and water with added vitamins. My thought is that I can keep track of her intake this way. I was thinking of setting up a heat lamp, not that it is cold but that it may comfort her. I am very new to chickens, and this is my first one. I know this is more stressful for her, but I don't know how to be sure she is eating and drinking? Any advice you can give me would be great!!
