What is wrong with my 4 month old Silkie?

She may have mites. Scaly face mites are about the same as other mites and can be eradicated fairly easily by the use of sevin dust or Ivermectin. Often there will be only one in the pen showing signs of mites, though others may have a lighter infestation.

 

Funny, I had the same problem with my 4 month old silkie. I found out that it was lice. They all had them in fact. The silkie that seemed more effected than the others would close her eyes alot, and the fur around her eyes was thin and she just seemed not super healthy, but for the longest time I didn't know what was wrong because that was really her only symptoms, around her eyes. I treated all of them with flea and tick powder made for cats and dogs. I something like a tea bag and put the powder in and puffed it around under the wings, around the vent, everywhere really-just make sure it reached the skin. Check for lice by looking at her vent, you will see tiny straw colored bugs and under the wings and on my silkies I found none by the vent but on their backs and such. The bugs will literally just fall off.

 

Going to post the same thing--mites! Dust her in Sevin dust(you buy this at walmart or anywhere with lawn & garden section should have it) or you can spray her with Adam's flea and tick spray(walmart pet section)...mites will cause lethargia and anemia and eventually cause death if not treated right away! Good luck!

 

Also, for maintenence, have you checked out DE? Diatomaceous Earth- always use food grade. I sprinkle it all over the pine shavings and put a little in their food. There are lots of threads on here discussing it.

 

I don't know I just don't feel comfortable using sevin dust on my chickens, but I do use DE in their house and put it in their food. Thank the Lord no mites ever!

 

I can't remember the name of the stuff but.I had a few pen's once that got mite's.DH got this poultry Lice/Mite dust from the local mill.I Dusted every bird and then put the dust in the cleaned/shop vac'd pen's.So far I haven't had any more problem's.I have heard the Sevin work's but I am iffy about it too.But a lot of people swear by it.I have heard of some people spreading a little if they have a common spot where they like to dust bathe in with the dirt or sand and it keep's them protected.Mine almost all have a few common holes they share for bathing.I will try the Sevin if I find anymore mite's.DE Is no where to to found around here. Every time one of mine scratche's Im picking all over to see if mites .Hope you can fix them up soon.

 

would the treatment be the same for leg mites?

 

I have heard that for leg mites use vaseline it smothers them, how would you put sevin on a chickens face? and wouldn't it cause breathing problems?