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

[chickeepoo]

I've been checking this hen as I've been syringe feeding her, trying to keep her off death's doorstep, and today I saw tiny light brownish things running through her feathers on her side, wing and back. Is Sevin dust OK to bag-dust her, as I think a bath at this point might chill her and finish her off? As others have suggested, her emaciated condition might be due to these bloodsuckers and now we know they're on her. ALSO she is in my house because I didn't want her near my birds- I'm afraid they may spread.

 

[TaLani]

If it was me I'd Sevin dust her for sure asap. Hope she does ok. Will she eat any solid food - scrambled egg maybe? Poli-vi-Sol vitamin drops (w/o iron) might help to keep her strength up too.

 

[HennysMom]

If they're already on her, and others have suggested this may be the cause of her decline, then chances are your other birds already have them. Dust the birds. I dont use Seven, I use Food Grade DE - I dont like chemicals..but others have and do use Seven with great success.

If your girl is already on deaths door - there's probably not much you can do for her except make her as comfortable as possible. I dont think it will hurt to dust her but...I'm sure others will chime in with more experience in this area.

I'd definately do all of your other birds, including their pen, coop and all bedding. Sanitize the entire coop (take all bedding out and redo it all).

Sorry your girls so ill.

 

[Ridgerunner]

I'd do Sevin now. Then you might check this site.

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

 

[TaLani]

JMHO - make sure to apply well to around the vent area & under the wings (as well as everywhere else).

 

[meriruka]

If you can't get food grade DE, Petsmart sells a spray that kills lice and mites. It works and it is not quite as intense as Sevin.

 

[barnwife]

Diatomaceous earth. It is mostly chemical free and kills ALL bugs with in a very short time. Add it to any area where your other birds dust-bathe regularly...once a week or so. Apply it directly to your sick bird. Avoid the eyes and beak, but if she eats it it will only de-worm her. I sprinkle the stuff on yogurt and feed that to my hens as a treat/dewormer mix. It will not affect egg laying or meat qualities of your birds, either.

Good Luck!

 

[chickeepoo]

Thanks all for quick replies- I'm on my way to get the Sevin; I'd love to find the food grade DE here, but they don't seem to sell it in Central Florida. I'll definitely dust all the birds and change out their bedding, as I do have one underweight BO that could point to the same problem. Ridgerunner, I'm almost sure it's lice after reading the link you sent.

This sick hen has her eyes closed and isn't walking, just shuffling around a tiny bit occasionally in the cage here in the living room. I've been syringe feeding her vitamin/electrolyte/tetracycline water and making various liquified foods in the blender with the vitamin water, greens, and powdered layer feed- today she's had scrambled egg with collared greens and the vit. water run through the blender. She has diarrhea, but at least food is going in and out- hope that improves. I'll update later tonight. MEANWHILE… am I going to have lice in my HOUSE?

 

[chickorama]

Oh! I hope she's okay! Update us.

 

[breezy]

My understanding of lice is that they are usually species specific. In other words bird lice go for birds ,dog lice go for dogs, ect. I think you should be ok but maybe others will have a different perspective



edited for spelling