What to do for a weak and possibly anemic chicken?

[It_is_I_Rae]

Hi all, one of my chickens isn't doing too well. I think she's anemic as I just realized recently that she has a bad infestation of lice. I've tried to get rid of them by dusting the flock with diatemacous earth (I didn't originally want to do this since I've heard that it's dangerous to inhale but the poultry spray that I was using before wasn't doing anything) but unfortunately she still has lice crawling on her and she's not looking too good. (I've held back from using chemical poultry spray because the chemicals in it are highly toxic to cats and the chickens live close to the cats. If I have to though I'll use it as a last resort.) She is still eating and drinking but she is thin and looks weak and lethargic and I don't know what to do. Is there any sort of food or iron supplements that I could give her to get her strength back up? I'm afraid she may not make it through the winter.

 

[Perris]

If you have some mustard seed/powder, sprinkle some on her food; it's high in iron (and other goodies), and available in any food shop that sells condiments.

For the lice, a few drops of ivermectin liquid on the skin at the back of the neck will kill them (and most other internal or external parasites), but it is not licensed as a poultry medicine in some countries (it doesn't even count as a vet med in others ) so you'll need to check locally to see if you can get it there. Put the DE in a dust bath and she should be able to keep herself largely free of lice once you've got rid of the current infestation. Good luck!

 

[It_is_I_Rae]

If you have some mustard seed/powder, sprinkle some on her food; it's high in iron (and other goodies), and available in any food shop that sells condiments.

For the lice, a few drops of ivermectin liquid on the skin at the back of the neck will kill them (and most other internal or external parasites), but it is not licensed as a poultry medicine in some countries (it doesn't even count as a vet med in others ) so you'll need to check locally to see if you can get it there. Put the DE in a dust bath and she should be able to keep herself largely free of lice once you've got rid of the current infestation. Good luck!

Thank you so much for the advice but as of this morning it doesn't look like she's going to make it

I'll use this for the rest of the flock though

 

[Perris]

as of this morning it doesn't look like she's going to make it

don't throw in the towel before she does! Chickens have remarkable powers of recovery.

 

[It_is_I_Rae]

don't throw in the towel before she does! Chickens have remarkable powers of recovery.

She can't stand up and she won't eat or drink anything

 

[It_is_I_Rae]

don't throw in the towel before she does! Chickens have remarkable powers of recovery.

Is there anything I can still do for her?

 

[Perris]

wrap her loosely in a towel, lay her somewhere warm and comfortable, drip water onto the edge of her beak. If she responds, some milk might help.

 

[It_is_I_Rae]

wrap her loosely in a towel, lay her somewhere warm and comfortable, drip water onto the edge of her beak. If she responds, some milk might help.

Thank you. I have her in the house sitting next to a space heater and I did get her to drink a little water. Should I still get some ivermectin? Should I try to force feed her anything? Would human iron supplements be harmful?

 

[Perris]

Great! I wouldn't give her human iron supplement; do you have some mustard in any form? mix with water and try that. I wouldn't force feed; but I would invest in ivermectin if you can get it where you are. Drops that you apply to the skin are easiest.

 

[It_is_I_Rae]

Great! I wouldn't give her human iron supplement; do you have some mustard in any form? mix with water and try that. I wouldn't force feed; but I would invest in ivermectin if you can get it where you are. Drops that you apply to the skin are easiest.

Alright! I may have some mustard seed or powder somewhere, but if I don't, would just regular old bottled mustard work?