2 week old chicks with lice/mites - help?

Hi,

So I went and picked up 2 two week old chicks today from craigslist. Boy were you guys right (but I guess I had to learn for myself) about the iffy-ness of buying from craigslisters. Anyway, I should have looked them over more thoroughly before bringing them home, but found mites (actually I think its lice based on my books description) and am wondering about how to treat a bird this young. Also, another burning question is if it is in fact lice, is this the same type of lice that is so contagious for people too?!?!

Nope--not the same as the ones on people, although they may crawl onto you and it is icky. They eat feathers and dandruff but are irritating to the poor bird. They can't live on you. There are several kinds of bird lice--the treatment is Carbaryl (Sevin), malathion, and coumaphos (Co-Ral). You have to read the label for how to use it on birds of different ages.

If it is mites it is more serious--they can weaken the bird through sucking its blood and causing irritation. A bad enough infection can result in the bird's death. My DH rescued a bird he hit driving on a country road--it was stunned and he thought it's wing was broken--he carried around for a while and ended up with mite bites up and down his arms.
They don't live on people either, but some like chiggers, are extremely irritating and will bite people.

Let us know what you do and how it works.

Thanks Cat,

I'm going to try the petroleum jelly under the wings and vent on each first. As I only saw one on one bird. They are pretty little and I think I'd see them if they were there. So maybe I saved these two before getting too many of them. If that doesn't seem to be doing the trick I'll head out looking for one of the things you list above.

I also checked my other girls tonight and *sigh* they are just healthy as can be! 8~D

By the way here's a pic of the two cuties... they are the two closes to the front of the pic...

totally adorable! glad you saw the post on the pet jelly too... i would first dunk them in warm water to get them away from the base of feathers, they could be hiding ANYWHERE on teh birds. then, since they look young, i suppose you will have to fluff them out with a blow dryer and infuser [or let it blow through your hand to soften the wind and heat]. THEN apply the jelly. if my chicks had this, i would do it twice a day every day, for however long it takes for 2 generations of lice to hatch... [sorry i dont' know what that is]

I wouldn't apply the pesticides if you don't need to--and actually I think all birds pretty much have some lice--just like most people have those mites that live in our eyelash follicles:

http://www.worsleyschool.net/science/files/eyelash/creatures.html

But some lice are worse than others and the bad ones include the ones that congregate around the chickens vents. I am very interested in how successful the petroleum jelly is--much rather use it than pesticide. And with only a few chickens it may be possible to eradicate them that way. Ya think?

i am NOT gonna look at that link! it is "off topic" LOL

yep i too wanna know how the petroleum jelly is working...

Off Topic! I am crying out for empathy with our feathered friends--solidarity with non-mammalian life-forms. And tolerance for low levels of nasty beasties that inhabit our bodies.

Actually I learned about the mites when I use to take the commuter train in London and the BBC did a special report on all the nasty things that lived on the headrests. Still can't lean back on a plane:0)

eeewww! and neither will I anymore! thank you for sharing THAT !! ugh! ick! eeek!

Your welcome:0)

yucky eeeew!
now im bleaching the sheets before igo to bed!

My work here is done.

I am SOOO with tf on this one.. CAT I used to like you.. how dare you post a linc like that??? lol

lice on whos eyelashes... ha!

ewwwwwwwwww did you all start to itch after reading that.

Ain't gonna read it. I have enough to worry about without reality rearing its ugly head.

Would diatomaceous earth help with mites, like it does with fleas?

yes, be careful to use food grade DE...

STILL NOT CLICKING THAT LINK CATSCAN!

Well, if ignorance is bliss.....:0)

I did and wish I didnt. but there is one good thing that link said, they dont poop.

So far my petroleum jelly around the vents is working extremely well. That is 2 days treatment. They had a whole bunch of what I believe to be lice around the vent when I got them. The reason I think they are lice is because they are very small and almost translucent beige-tan color, with smaller ones that are pretty much white. I also put DE (food grade, purchased from mypetchicken.com) in a dust bath of sand. They have used that too because I can see where bits of the sand and DE are stuck to the jelly! Anyway, I cannot see any more lice on them at this time. I will keep treating for several more days. The jelly supposedly smothers the eggs too.
Claire

Hey Claire, et al,

I just inspected the chicks on my lunch break and I too seem to be having success with it. I didn't see anything but greasy wing-pits and bums... no bugs to be found!

BTW: What is DE?

Skipping to another topic?...
How early do you start letting them outside? Its so nice here right now! I let them out while I was home and let them play in the triangle of my legs on the grass. they seemed to lvoe it sooo much!
Also, when can they have "treats" like melon or veggies, etc...???

DE is diatomaceous earth. It is ground up bodies of things called diatoms that have hard shells and live in the ocean. The DE cuts open the bugs bodies because it is sharp, but it's just a dust. They are like tiny crystals for the bugs, who walk over it and get cut open. You don't want to use too much because it can cause respiratory problems (for humans and chickens). Mix it in with sand or earth that they dust bath in. You only want to use what is called "food grade" DE. Some people use it for pest control in their gardens.

I don't know about the other part but will need to know soon I think! I'll watch for answers.
Claire

lLL I started giving my chicks watermelon, cherios, corn on the cob, tomatoes and strawberry tops when they were just a few days old.. not sure if its correct or not, as I am a newbie...but no one told me not to! and OMG! they LOVE their treats! lol!

I can't get my babies to take treats they run up to me expecting something but then just stare at what ever I have to offer and don't eat it. Very frustrating.

put it right under their feet... they'll find it!

I think mine like treats too much. Now they have the squirts! I think I should back off on the treats. I've found that they love the melon, just like the big girls.

Back to LazyLadies question on when can they go outside. My book says as long as it is warm enough (i.e. in the mid 70's or up), they can go outside at 4 weeks. If it is raining or something, bring them in or give them shelter. I would still bring mine in at night. I also would keep an eye on them very regularly when they are outside. I haven't tried it yet. I'm not sure if mine are 4 weeks. They are just starting to get tail feathers on the 2 biggest ones.

And, still no new lice/mites on the OEG birds, so the vaseline is definitely working.
Claire

Lazy-L, I found if I sprinkled a touch of corn meal on the watermelen, it really helped with the loose stools..

Claire,
I've been taking mine out and setting them in the crook of my legs for about 15 minutes at a time. They LOVE it! The only problem is that they are figuring out they are chickens and not my kids... ;~) Today they hopped on my leg, then perched on my arm, gained some balance and then went for it! They started flapping their wings like mad and gioing in opposite directions. They got put back in the brooder shortly after. ha! I just want them to feel the grass between their toes and get some fresh air. So I'm going to construct a little pin that is fully enclosed so that the others can't get to them and they can't escape, but can get some fresh air.

Frans,
Great suggestion! We put milled flaxseed on one watermelon for the older girls and they didn't seem to have real loose stool after that either.

DE has never worked for us, sevin is to strong a pesticide but does work fast within a few hours. the best we found for mites and lice is adams flea and tick spray in the blue bottles. it kills instantly and protects for 3mths with a shotunder each wing and around the vent. if u bath them with baby shampoo it works too but doesn't get them all. baby oil or petrollium jelly on the feet helps with scaly leg mites also.
hope that helps,
silkie

Great tips Silkie, thanks