UPDATE- didn't make it. Lice/dehydration/anemia/neurological

[MissJenny]

After researching the iron question all I came up with is that it is a matter of dosage. The iron needed for an adult is much higher than what is needed for a child and the dosage for a child is much too high for the daily requirements of a chicken. It is entirely possible for a chicken to suffer extreme consequences from iron poisoning.

Glad your girl has made such a marked improvement.

Jenny

 

[Tala]

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

The straw colored/white bugs are lice I believe, and they only live on the hoast according to this website, but changing the bedding still wouldn't hurt.
It's the only kind of lice that my birds have gotten. Sevin dust did wonders for them. I have also used it around plenty of pets my whole life with no issues from it. (I'm more afraid of the Permithrin stuff). The only thing is that it kindof feels like it burns on your sinuses if you don't wear a mask during application.

Here is another question then... what should I do to help her recover from anemia? I bought some Poly Vi Sol vitamin drops but accidentally bought the regular kind (with iron). I didn't use them because I read the iron was bad. BUT, would it be good, in small amounts, to get her some iron??? Or is there a better way to do it?

Rooster Booster makes a blood-boosting supplement for chickens. It has iron, but in a dosage for birds rather than humans. Follow the directions on the bottle.

Glad she made a turn around!!! I would treat all your birds with the Sevin and the meds.​

 

[urbanfarmer101]

I had a bad infestation in the spring. I treated them for two weeks and was still seeing buggers. I then sprayed them with tea tree oil and coconut oil. That worked like a charm. No more buggers. My girls did get dirty tho, it just stuck to the oil. But, that was better than lice. Urgh...

 

[rhaj]

I'm so sad to say... we lost her.

She tried to recover for a couple days, I really thought she was going to make it... but she was just as lifeless again when I woke up on Thursday morning and a half hour later she died.

We kept her inside while she was recovering. We did notice there was something strange going on while she was "recovering", but I'm not sure what. At first we thought it was her vision, but maybe it was something neurological?? For example, she would go to eat her food but miss to the right...?

The others seem ok, and as far as the lice, I think she may have been the only one. I don't think she spread it to them, and if so, they aren't anywhere near as bad and have all been dusted (and will be again).

RIP Bluebell

<---- that is her in my avatar

 

[MissJenny]

Oh, I am so sorry. It does sound neurological. My heart goes out to you and to Bluebell

With Sympathy,
Jenny

 

[Bedste]

I saw a few lice on some of my 11 weekers so I went for it today...... Seems like once a year...this is what I have to do.

I emptied all the shavings from the henhouse and the nests. I burned the shavings to kill the lice hiding in them. I sprayed the inside of the henhouse down with water..... AFTER it was completely dry..... I spread DE all over the henhouse floor and under roosts and in and under nests. I then put out a fresh layer of pine shavings and I locked the house to keep the lice infected chickens out (all the girls were free ranging) THEN I caught each chicken and gave everyone a bb size amount of ivermectin and I sprinkled poultry dust on everyone arm pits and vents.

I have done this before and it works. From what I understand, ivermectin gets rid of all parasites inside and out.

 

[Bedste]

i just read the last post..... I am so sorry about your loss.

 

[BuzzinBee]

Ohhhh... I'm so sorry you lost her.