Anyone use Sawyer's permetrin spray in coop?

[KansasKate]

I think I've got mites.

I picked up a chicken and found myself with bites the next day. I got these chooks at about 4 mo. I've got a little Catawba coop so I will clean everything out. I happen to have Sawyer's permethrin spray for clothing. Any thoughts on using it on the coop and roost, then letting it dry while the girls free range?

Best treatment for the chooks? DE? Sevin?

Thanks.

 

[HorseFeatherz NV]

I have never used that spray.


I use sevin to dust the birds and coop. You can also bathe the birds with dawn dish soap to kill the bugs. Do not forget to repeat in 7 to 10 days to kill any nits that have hatched.

 

[dospuercos]

Quote:
I've never thought of that. Duh! But if soapy water kills the bugs in my garden by suffocating them, I guess it would work on mites as well. I'll have to try that.

I have used Permethrin Spray. It wasn't Sawyer's brand but it should be the same thing. I have also bought the dust with permethrin as well. I do try to use 'organic' & 'natural' methods as best as I can. But sometimes you just have to use the real stuff, unfortunately. For the spray, I clean out my entire coop & then wash it down with water. Then I mix up the spray & spray every nook & cranny. Obviously don't let your chickens back in until the coop is dry. For the chickens, I use the dust. There is probably a better way to do it. But I have found the easiest thing to do, is hold them upside down by their feet. Wearing rubber gloves, I hold them over a rubbermade container (to catch the dust that falls). I can also use the container to push their head out of the way since you don't want to get it in their eyes. I shake some of the dust in a small container & then pick up a little in my hands. With my fingers, I rub the powder all over & underneath their feathers. The most important place to dust them is around their vent area. (This is where the mites like to hang out the most.) I hope this helps your mite problem!

I use permetrin as a last resort. So that I don't have to use it as often, I make sure my chickens have a good place to take dust baths. I put diatomaceous earth in with their bedding & nesting boxes. And my ferrier recently told me that he uses pine needles in his coop. I haven't been able to try the pine needles yet, but I am very interested to see how effective they are.

 

[KansasKate]

Well, I did the deed with some serious stuff: a malathion dip and spray for the coop. They have forgiven me and seem to be doing great. The coop was really clean; no mite evidence. I think it was fowl mites. The coop is cedar with pine shavings; the only non-cedar is the bottom of the roost section. That's where I focused the spray. I realized the DE I have is the wrong kind for chickens but I plan to get some of the right kind and mix it in to their dirt bathing spots in the yard.

 

[fishnet1971]

I have used the Permitherin and it has worked well for me and my small spoiled flock of 12.