URGENT: Mites or Lice on Already Near-Dead Hen- How to Remove?

[chickeepoo]

You know, maybe the other BO who was her buddy before wouldn't mind "chicken sitting" the rest of this week to see if it perks her up… I'll try that tomorrow and update later in the day! I know the Lord takes notice of every sparrow that falls (and every hen), but I wasn't giving this one back just yet if I could help it…

Thank you all for checking in, throwing the lifelines, and rooting for her- I'll keep up the feeding and time will tell how this will end.

 

[chickengal]

I just read all the posts about your hen and am wondering how she's doing?

 

[chickeepoo]

I just checked her again, Chickengal, and she doesn't look good… She looks like she's going out today, so I've wrapped her in a towel and gave her a little more water to swallow. I'll be surprised if she's alive by tonight, but I'll let you all know. Never did figure out what was the underlying problem besides the lice, but she's just skin, feather and bone at this point except for what I've been feeding her… very sad to watch her fade. We try our best, and that's really all we can do, I guess.

 

[chickeepoo]

Just returned from culling her- I had to get help from my friend's husband b/c my husband was already gone for work and I was afraid I'd mess up; sure enough, the hen's head slipped out from under the broom handle on the first try, and he had to go twice to finish the job. I'd looked over the entire recent thread on culling, and felt that the cervical dislocation would be quickest/painless, but let me just say now I think the hatchet is more efficient. I feel REALLY badly but glad it's over and she's not suffering- she was so weak and thin, and I think it hurt her a lot every time I picked her up to clean up around her or check her.

The remaining BO hen at their house weighs even less than this one did, although she's at least still walking around picking at grass and scratch and drinking a lot.

Thanks to all who offered help and support, and sorry to have to deliver the news.

 

[HennysMom]

I'm so sorry you had to cull her.

 

[countrybum]

I am so sorry. I have a Roo that is missing an eye, which has now started to get infected. I am going to be doing the same to him soon and really regret the thought. He is one of the first I hatched myself and it makes it hard.

 

[Glenda L Heywood]

This bird if still alive should be fed the
natural probiotic wet mash
3 tbsp of dry crumbles
6 tbsp of milk sweet, sour or buttermilk
1 tbsp of yoguart unflavored
feed this to her ans see if she can eat this amt in 20-30 minutes time
then clean the et dish and put dy crumbles for her the rest of the day

then at nite feed her another mixture as given here
make sure she cleans up and if any left in that time store in closed container in frig.

I would feed this recipe till she is strong and active
as well as in the watwe
1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar
1 pt of water
and keep her on this water till she is very strong health

 

[ChickenNoodle]

I'm sorry about your sick chick. Sorry you had to cull her.

 

[Renee]

Sorry about your hen. You really spent a long time trying to keep her alive.

 

[chickeepoo]

Thanks- it was a hard morning to have to cull her, and sorry Countrybum that it looks like you have to go the same route… sorry for your rooster too.

I have 2 more BO's now parked together in the nest box with no eggs, getting broody. They have hardly eaten for over 2 days, and fight me when I try to make them eat and drink (took a syringe in there today and kept squeezing out little amounts of water to make them swallow some anyway- they were really panting). I really think this batch of Buffs has some kind of genetic problem… They've been dusted, given yogurt with the feed as a mash to give them more calcium and protein, ACV in the water, BOSS and plenty of feed (which they pretty much ignore now) and a little greens, but they're starting to act like the one that went downhill.