Sick Chicken: Urgent Help Please

[Daveed Grier]

I have a 1 year old Ameracauna Barred rock mix who is not doing well. She is moving slower than normal (but not slug slow). She is keeping her eyes 3/4 open and looking a little tired. She does have mites which we are treating using chicken dust. Her comb is turning maroon and she is relatively light. She seems to be eating normally and perching. It is getting cold here and I am wondering if it may be affecting her condition. We have decided to bring her inside to attempt at diagnosing her. Does anyone have any idea what might be affecting her and or how I should treat it. Please respond soon I don't want her to perish, she is a long time favorite hen of my family.

 

[Lacy Duckwing]

I'm going to tag a few people and hopefully they'll know more than I do.
@Eggcessive @aart @Wyorp Rock

 

[Daveed Grier]

I'm going to tag a few people and hopefully they'll know more than I do.
@Eggcessive @aart @Wyorp Rock

Thank you!

 

[Eggcessive]

What is your location in the world? What is the ingredient of your chicken dust? Permethrin is very good at treating mites, using it every 7 days for 3 or more times. Ivermectin is also used, and I can give dosages for whichever product used. Do you have a vet who could help? Be sure to treat your coop facilities for mites, removing all bedding, and replacing it once you have treated with permethrin or a product with spinosad (Elector PSP.) If you are in the US, you may get Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell and can give 2 ml orally each day, and those contain iron.

 

[Daveed Grier]

What is your location in the world? What is the ingredient of your chicken dust? Permethrin is very good at treating mites, using it every 7 days for 3 or more times. Ivermectin is also used, and I can give dosages for whichever product used. Do you have a vet who could help? Be sure to treat your coop facilities for mites, removing all bedding, and replacing it once you have treated with permethrin or a product with spinosad (Elector PSP.) If you are in the US, you may get Poultry NutriDrench or Poultry Cell and can give 2 ml orally each day, and those contain iron.

I am in the East Coast USA and I do not know the ingredients of my chicken dust. I will try what you are advising and see if it improves her condition.

 

[Eggcessive]

If it is DE or diatomaceous earth, that will not treat a mite outbreak. Permethrin 10 concentrate, with water added 1:200 is effective against mites. Ready to use permethrin 0.5 spray and garden dust are also available at most farm stores and TSC. With her comb turning dark, if it is not mites, it could be a heart problem, dehydration, or something else. Getting her drinking fluids, offering chicken feed made mushy with a lot of water, and a little scrambled egg would be good.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Mites can drag a bird down for sure.
Has she been laying eggs? I would also make sure her crop is emptying overnight too.

 

[Daveed Grier]

I have a 1 year old Ameracauna Barred rock mix who is not doing well. She is moving slower than normal (but not slug slow). She is keeping her eyes 3/4 open and looking a little tired. She does have mites which we are treating using chicken dust. Her comb is turning maroon and she is relatively light. She seems to be eating normally and perching. It is getting cold here and I am wondering if it may be affecting her condition. We have decided to bring her inside to attempt at diagnosing her. Does anyone have any idea what might be affecting her and or how I should treat it. Please respond soon I don't want her to perish, she is a long time favorite hen of my family.

Quick Update:
She has been showing signs of mite and we are dusting her as I am typing this, she has not been pooping much and when she does it is small. Will mites cause irreparable damage to a chicken? Would it be best to help her end suffering or is there some way I can help her heal, please help she is a favorite.

 

[Daveed Grier]

If it is DE or diatomaceous earth, that will not treat a mite outbreak. Permethrin 10 concentrate, with water added 1:200 is effective against mites. Ready to use permethrin 0.5 spray and garden dust are also available at most farm stores and TSC. With her comb turning dark, if it is not mites, it could be a heart problem, dehydration, or something else. Getting her drinking fluids, offering chicken feed made mushy with a lot of water, and a little scrambled egg would be good.

Should I cut any feathers with noticeable mite egg clusters or should I find a different way of removing the eggs?

 

[Eggcessive]

Are you sure it is mites and not lice? Pictures of the eggs on feathers would be good. With lice eggs at the base of feathers, most people retreat in 10 days to get the newly hatched eggs before they reproduce. I would not trim feathers with eggs. Here are some good pictures of both lice eggs and mites:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/