Utah!

Iluv, it could be lice. Some folks use Sevin garden dust to kill pests like that, but I've never done it and don't know the details. I have given my birds an oil sponge bath, and it does help.

Sundance, congrats!
 
Briana...last yr I had some critters on my birds, it can come from wild birds in your yard. Sevin dust does help, also there is a liquid called poultry protector, at Cal ranch, for small flocks, it is nice, you just add it to warm water and dip your chickens in it....with the size of my flock the dipping was a huge task, soI read on here another person had used fipronil (generic name for dog lice/tick treatment, found at walmart) so I tried that...you put it on their skin at the underside of their vent. Just a drop. It says it lasts 60 days. I did it one time, and have never seen bugs again so I felt like it worked really well. I also add diotomaceous earth and wood ash to their dust bath area, it is supposed to help prevent the bugs from starting. Hope that helps! That link I posted yesterday leads to a blog that has all kinds of information about getting rid of lice and mites also.
 
Update: I went and checked on her a little bit ago at midnight (nervous to find her dead) but she's still alive and seemed a little more alert then she was before but still not getting up or anything. I sat her on my lap and made her take a couple more drops of water from a seringe and made sure she had some available in there with her. As I was brushing her big poof ball away from her eyes I noticed something odd, and as I looked deeper I noticed she has tiny bugs on her cheek area, eww. I tried to research which bug it could be but im really not sure. Against her white fur, the bugs look brown and big enough I can see them quite well. I didnt see any around her vent, just by her face. Not sure if she got them before or after I put her in the shed where there was still old bedding from when I used it for the chicks. Not sure what I should use to kill the bugs or if they are a cause for concern. I was also considering the possibility that they might need to be wormed. I noticed alot of their poops are runny but I read that can be normal in this heat as they retain more watery poos from drinking more. I dont know if I should worm them anyway? If so what would I use, and how much? I dont have any experience in the area of deworming chickens, or killing bugs on them. I am really surprised to see her still alive and it was a relief to see her eyes open and making a little noise. I really hope she pulls through the night.

I hope its not too late. I am so sorry about your girl. when you give her water always add some sugar to it. That way it will give her some energy. she may have pneumonia. and need some antibiotics. I hope she ok. Could the bugs be ants that were in the bedding?
 
Iluv, I sure hope your girl gets better. She is so beautiful :love

Cynthia, I saw you commented on Yoshi, he is actually really big for a silkie, maybe the cage makes him look small in that picture, but his shoulders are really broad across and he is so fluffy he looks twice as big as my showgirl. His feet are so nice and from the back, I need to get a picture, he has the total boots, I hope they like him at the fair, not sure if the silver necklace he has grown is good or bad, but the silvery feathers look just gorgeous. Still can't figure out if he is blue, black, silver, or what the appropriate color term would be for him.

Sundance, I LOVE your silver Silkie, she was by far my favorite when we came to visit. I am glad you entered her, she would have been my first choice!
 
Update: I went and checked on her a little bit ago at midnight (nervous to find her dead) but she's still alive and seemed a little more alert then she was before but still not getting up or anything. I sat her on my lap and made her take a couple more drops of water from a seringe and made sure she had some available in there with her. As I was brushing her big poof ball away from her eyes I noticed something odd, and as I looked deeper I noticed she has tiny bugs on her cheek area, eww. I tried to research which bug it could be but im really not sure. Against her white fur, the bugs look brown and big enough I can see them quite well. I didnt see any around her vent, just by her face. Not sure if she got them before or after I put her in the shed where there was still old bedding from when I used it for the chicks. Not sure what I should use to kill the bugs or if they are a cause for concern. I was also considering the possibility that they might need to be wormed. I noticed alot of their poops are runny but I read that can be normal in this heat as they retain more watery poos from drinking more. I dont know if I should worm them anyway? If so what would I use, and how much? I dont have any experience in the area of deworming chickens, or killing bugs on them. I am really surprised to see her still alive and it was a relief to see her eyes open and making a little noise. I really hope she pulls through the night.
check out this article see if that matches any of your descriptions

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html
 
Some of the eggs I started getting from Sphinx' birds this week. Keepers ! The one on the far right is actually pretty deep tan for comparison.
400
 
Poo. No champions this year! Oreo, that did so well last year, got beat in breed even by the other Polish. No Class winners either this time.

My white Silkie got 1st in breed, there were some other whites there...I think Yoshi got best in breed (roo), my husband went down and brought the news back and was not completely sure, I will have to go down and take a looksee :D Not sure how my Showgirl did. My Houdan got best in breed (and only in breed! haha)

Overall, I am happy with that :D

RJ let us know how you did! I will have to peek at yours when I go down tonight.
 
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She is still alive this morning but still doesent look good..I took a video of how she is acting... and a couple pics of the bugs I see on her. She wont try to eat or drink on her own.


I am guessing Northern Fowl mites. Could be lice too. Hard to tell from the pics.
Maybe the infestation is what has her down, I know if it gets bad it can kill them, they give up the will to survive. She may have had these for a while and gone unnoticed. Did you get some Sevin Dust on her? There is a video, you wear gloves, roll her on her back and just massage the powder in all over her, head, body, belly under feathers, until she is coated completely. I would have someone else due it due to you being pregnant, they shake and you can get the dust in your face, so have whoever wear a bandana or something over nose and mouth. i would get that done ASAP, or you can douse her in cooking oil like Red said, just grease her up feathers, skin, everything and let her be greasy for the day before you try to wash her up. The bugs suffocate. Or the dip, or something that will kill those critters fast. They usually don't just stay on one bird so be sure to check the others. Very common on their bellies toward the vent area.
 
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I am guessing Northern Fowl mites. Could be lice too. Hard to tell from the pics.
Maybe the infestation is what has her down, I know if it gets bad it can kill them, they give up the will to survive. She may have had these for a while and gone unnoticed. Did you get some Sevin Dust on her? There is a video, you wear gloves, roll her on her back and just massage the powder in all over her, head, body, belly under feathers, until she is coated completely. I would have someone else due it due to you being pregnant, they shake and you can get the dust in your face, so have whoever wear a bandana or something over nose and mouth. i would get that done ASAP, or you can douse her in cooking oil like Red said, just grease her up feathers, skin, everything and let her be greasy for the day before you try to wash her up. The bugs suffocate. Or the dip, or something that will kill those critters fast. They usually don't just stay on one bird so be sure to check the others. Very common on their bellies toward the vent area.
 

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