Very lethargic hen!

[shannon84]

Noticed this yesterday after she got broody and suddenly stopped.

 

[dawg53]

How long was she broody?

 

[shannon84]

How long was she broody?

Only two days. I'm worried it's mites. The vet told me one time to use seven dust but I don't seem to think it works that well.

 

[dawg53]

You're going to have closely visually inspect your hen for external parasites, lice and mites. Lice are white or off white in color. They have 6 legs and are more of an irritant than anything else. Lice eggs can be seen clustered on feather shafts usually around the vent area where it's warm and moist.
Mites are black or red in color. They have 8 legs and they suck blood causing anemia, then death. Red mites can also introduce spirochetes into the bloodstream.
You can dust chickens with Permethrin dust or spray them with Permethrin diluted liquid concentrate.
The inside of the coop(s) will need to be treated as well, including nest boxes and roosts. Then wait ten days and redust your birds and coop as well.
You might want to consider worming your birds. I use Valbazen liquid cattle/sheep wormer. Dosage is 1/2ml given orally for a 5lb hen using a syringe without a needle. Redose again in 10 days. It's best to worm birds early in the morning before they eat. Then wait a couple of hours after worming before you feed them.

 

[shannon84]

You're going to have closely visually inspect your hen for external parasites, lice and mites. Lice are white or off white in color. They have 6 legs and are more of an irritant than anything else. Lice eggs can be seen clustered on feather shafts usually around the vent area where it's warm and moist.
Mites are black or red in color. They have 8 legs and they suck blood causing anemia, then death. Red mites can also introduce spirochetes into the bloodstream.
You can dust chickens with Permethrin dust or spray them with Permethrin diluted liquid concentrate.
The inside of the coop(s) will need to be treated as well, including nest boxes and roosts. Then wait ten days and redust your birds and coop as well.
You might want to consider worming your birds. I use Valbazen liquid cattle/sheep wormer. Dosage is 1/2ml given orally for a 5lb hen using a syringe without a needle. Redose again in 10 days. It's best to worm birds early in the morning before they eat. Then wait a couple of hours after worming before you feed them.

Ok thank you! Where do I get permethrin? How do you do it exactly?

 

[dawg53]

Ok thank you! Where do I get permethrin? How do you do it exactly?

Permethrin can be found in hardware stores. I get mine at a local Ace hardware.
See post #7 in this link on how to dust your birds and especially your coop.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/mites-update-lice.1566211/#post-26580095

 

[shannon84]

She passed away. Her sickness happened so fast. She was one of my favorites. Ugh

 

[dawg53]

It seems it's always a favorite. I'm sorry for your loss.
If you get the chance, inspect your other birds for external parasites. I wish you the best.