Can talcon powder work as mite powder?

[laurengeeves]

This is just a question as I've got plenty of mite powder, and the way it kills the mites is it dehydrates them and gets all in their airways and suffocates them. So I'm just wondering whether talcon powder would do the same?

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Check out the neem oil thread if interested:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/436636/neem-oil-for-mites

https://www.backyardchickens.com/newsearch?search=neem+oil
and other threads on neem oil

I haven't tried the neem oil yet but bought some.

Talc powder won't work in my opinion- I have never tried it though. However, I have noticed that when I give them cool dry woodstove ashes to bathe in over the winter it helps keep the mites away some.

You can always try it and see- but take care not to let them breathe it in (and don't breathe it in yourself) as it is bad for the lungs.

I would definitely check them immediately to see if it worked. If the bugs don't drop dead immediately I would treat them with something that is known to work. Mites and lice can kill chickens so it is vital to keep them bug-free.

 

[sourland]

I think the mites might find the Talcum powder enervating. Mite powder actually contains elements that are toxic to mites - frequently pyrethrin or pymethrins.

 

[laurengeeves]

Thank you! I'll have to get some neem oil, it sounds like it works better than mite powder

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

Thank you! I'll have to get some neem oil, it sounds like it works better than mite powder

Keep in mind that neem oil is not a mainstream treatment. I only mentioned it since it sounded like you wanted to avoid insecticides. I haven't even tried it myself...don't have the nerve to yet even though I have a bottle of it sitting in my home. When they get mites I am always in such a hurry to get rid of them I just reach for my Poultry Dust.

So in other words it is not a "tried and true" treatment of mites and thus I am not recommending the neem oil to you- just mentioning it.

Please do check them immediately to see if it worked, and if it didn't, use the Poultry Dust on them.,

 

[ChickensAreSweet]

I think the mites might find the Talcum powder enervating. Mite powder actually contains elements that are toxic to mites - frequently pyrethrin or pymethrins.

Too true Sourland!

The OP has another thread where I recommended permethrin poultry dust, and gave the recommendation to use that.

So I am responding to this thread with the knowledge that I have already recommended the "tried and true."

Sourland is right.

 

[Jacqdiva]

I have used neem for ticks and fleas, plus ticks and mites on horses. It is phenomenal and will kill off insect parasite populations by making them non-viable to breed. Put neem oil on four ticks in one entry site on one of the mares then touched them with the tip of my finger and they all dropped off. Pretty impressed! No more tickets seen on dogs, and NO FLEAS!!! Just started with my chickens so will keep you posted.

 

[Markus Allen]

Talcum powder is working for me on demodex mites.

 

[Markus Allen]

I think the mites might find the Talcum powder enervating. Mite powder actually contains elements that are toxic to mites - frequently pyrethrin or pymethrins.

From What Im finding...day three....Mix talcum powder with virgin coconut oil. Put the oil on thick to scalp or affected areas then powder dust yourself with the talcum/baby powder is what i'm using ITs disentrating the mites on the outer layer of the skin...repeat once or twice a day. Massage the concoction into the skin.

 

[Markus Allen]

From What Im finding...day three....Mix talcum powder with virgin coconut oil. Put the oil on thick to scalp or affected areas then powder dust yourself with the talcum/baby powder is what i'm using ITs disentrating the mites on the outer layer of the skin...repeat once or twice a day. Massage the concoction into the skin.

Uhh...Not that I can see...Evervating? Not with these. they immediately stop flitting around when they smell this baby powder..they hate it.