Mite in the Nest Box

[BayBay Peepers]

I had a mite problem this past winter that I thought I had taken care of. Today when I went to collect eggs I saw mites in the nest box and they were crawling on the eggs. Currently the eggs are hanging out outdoors. If I just wipe the eggs down are they still safe to eat? I've completely emptied, dusted, and sprayed the coop and I plan to spray the chickens when they go in for the night. Is this a cleanliness issue? I clean my coop weekly, should I be doing it twice a week?

 

[Duckopolis]

The eggs should be good to eat if you cook them well. Mites can get through the smallest holes ever. One thing you can do is seal all of the cracks in your coop. Another thing you could do is track them to the source and spray them with bug killer there.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

Thanks. I don't know if this is a coincidence that I just have them again or that they were never really taken out the first time. Between the last time and today I hadn't seen anything. Guess I was outsmarted by the buggers.

 

[fifistamps]

BayBay, I feel your pain!

I have been dealing with mites since October when one of my girls went broody. I have treated with poultry dust and poultry protector. I have used DE and wood ash in areas that the girls dust bathe. I'm not sure if the mites can eradicated or if this is just a chronic issue that needs to be addressed to keep the number of mites at bay. People always write that they hide in cracks but I can see them crawling on the chickens and eggs.

 

[BayBay Peepers]

They must just never go away. I'll go days without seeing anything and then they'll be on the eggs or I can see them on a chicken. I'm ready to torch this coop and start anew.

 

[fifistamps]

I have been putting DE in the nesting boxes every week since I did 2 dustings about 4 days apart with poultry dust. I haven't seen any mites, knock of chicken coop wood. I'm sure they are there but not in the masses. I guess it is the price they pay for being wild and free. I have also been having issues with soft shell eggs despite giving oyster shell. I was hoping this would clear up with the mites.

 

[ShebaSkye]

Is it ok to use DE around any age chicken? I have some all the way from 3 weeks to 2 yrs old. Does anyone just use DE for mites or do you dust with poultry dust as well?

 

[fifistamps]

Food grade DE is good as a preventive and safe for all ages. I used the poultry dust to treat full on infestation. You have to retreat in 4-5 days to treat newly hatched mites as it doesn't kill mite eggs. You could try the DE as a primary treatment, from what I read, it hasn't given the immediate results. I hate using chemicals and am crossing my fingers the DE will keep the mites in check.Good luck, so frustrating!

 

[BayBay Peepers]

I lost a hen and decided to wage a chemical war. I tried to avoid it, but losing one was too much, I am devastated. My hope is that I will only use Sevin this time and be able to keep everything in check with the DE from here on out. I know everything has a purpose in life, but I have yet to find a purpose for ugly, little bugs.

 

[ShebaSkye]

Thanks for the replies on the DE. As you can see I haven't been on here in a while so just noticed someone answered my question.