Mites and frostbite in -40C

[mamatoes]

Ohhh boy. Ok so I found a chicken today in my coop with fully frozen feet. So I brought in to put in water to thaw out and hoped to nurse back to health inside. BUT I started noticing tiny black bugs. There are thousands all over her climbing on the towel I’ve wrapped her in. I seriously regret bringing her in now. I don’t know how to dry her off. I sprayed her with cooking oil lol I read that can kill mites. I added our wood ash to the coop. A huge issue is it’s -40 right now, and I couldn’t clean the coop if I tried. Cleaning the coop is not an option.

What am I to do?! We probably won’t be able to clean until march/april! Help!!!!

 

[GodLovesU]

The frozen feet may end up falling off. As for the mites, permethrin is a good option. Is there another coop you could temporarily move your chickens too? Below I have posted a link to an article on how to use permethrin and a link to a thread where a chickens feet were frost-bitten. The thread may not seem helpful, but there are some other helpful links in it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-or-mites-on-chickens-using-permethrin.79711/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/28340092/

 

[GodLovesU]

Here’s another article about frostbite :
https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...to-know-about-injury-care-and-recovery.78168/
Also I would try drying her with a hair dryer. I don’t think cooking oil kills mites.

 

[mamatoes]

The frozen feet may end up falling off. As for the mites, permethrin is a good option. Is there another coop you could temporarily move your chickens too? Below I have posted a link to an article on how to use permethrin and a link to a thread where a chickens feet were frost-bitten. The thread may not seem helpful, but there are some other helpful links in it.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/ar...-or-mites-on-chickens-using-permethrin.79711/

https://www.backyardchickens.com/posts/28340092/

Thank you. I’m feeling so so discouraged. I have never had mites before and I feel so gross.

I don’t have another coop and that link said I need to remove the birds to put that dusting on and also I read it’s super bad for humans and can get in the eggs? It was just in that link you sent

 

[GodLovesU]

Does your coop have a run? I didn’t have any problems with the permethrin, however wearing a face mask would probably be a good idea. I have not researched much into the egg aspect of it, but I wouldn’t think it would affect the eggs for an extensive amount of time.

 

[Eggcessive]

Do you know how the chicken got frostbite? Is the floor bedding damp, and do you have some overhead ventilation without any direct wind on them? Is there open drinking water? Can you post some pictures of the legs and feet in the next 24 hours? It may take a week or more to see the full extent and damage of the frostbite. Any frostbite will turn black and leathery. Above that will be bulbous white tissue where you will see where the toes or feet will fall off at some point.

I am not aware that you can get permethrin in Canada. It comes in garden dust and a spray. The dust is applied in an old sock to the body. Docktor Death may be a product in Canada that you can check out. Other possible treatments for mites are ivermectin pour on (5 mg per ml 0.1 ml per every 2 pounds of weight) applied on the back of the neck over the spine. Repeat in 14 days. Toss eggs for at least 14 days. Sulfur powder used in gardens also works against mites, but permethrin and spinosad are the better treatments. The mites may fall off in a warm soapy Dawn soak initially, but she must be wrapped in a warm towel and blown dry to keep her from getting hypothermic. A vet might prescribe a topical spot on medication.