Mite Problem!!

[richardbim]

I need some advice from more experienced chicken owners. I’ve had my chickens since they were chicks and they just started laying a month ago. Today while I was looking through one of my chicken’s feathers, I noticed a little mite, then I searched for more and found a lot! They were different white/grayish/golden and they sizes varied. I’m guessing all of them have mites? None of them are showing signs that they’re being affected, they’re laying daily, they’re being active, just being normal.

Are they’re any home remedies to treat them? Or products to buy? Im glad I found the mites before the situation got any worse.

thanks and hope to hear from you guys soon!

 

[pibb]

I have a dust bath with fire ashes in it. I don't know if that is 100% guaranteed to work though but I haven't had mites. Some use a Permithrin based spray and spray the chicken down. I would use the spray then think about the dust bath.

 

[Aquatic_blue]

Mites can and will hurt your birds over time. From my understanding, they can suck blood and mke chickens anemic and sick. It can make them lose feathers and peck themselves. Sounds like you caught it early, which is great!

Food grade Diatamaceous Earth can be put in spots that they take dust baths to help kill mites. Also put it in the bedding in the coop and in their run. It is perfectly safe for chickens and people, just make sure you or the chickens aren't breathing it in when you are putting it down. It can irritate your lungs. Keep in mind once this stuff gets wet, it isn't effective for killing bugs. Replace as needed.

Make sure your coop is well ventilated and dry. Replace bedding as needed. I do a spot clean of the coop each day, get those nasty wet globs of poop out of there with a cat litter scoop to keep it from accumulating.

Make sure they have places to dust bathe, this is how they prevent bug issues and help cure them.

Here is an article about mites and lice:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mites-lice-treatment-and-prevention.64597/

 

[Painted Calls]

Check around your bird's vents and on their belly right below their vent, for egg clusters at the base of feathers. That should give you an indicator of how bad they are.

I use permethrin based spray because it is easier and more effective against external parasites. Permethrin based dust works as well. Skip the DE. It won't do much other than irritate everyone's respiratory systems.

Making sure they have a good dry place to dust bathe goes a long way to helping prevent external parasites. Good dry dirt with/without wood ash works just fine.

 

[Folly's place]

Permethrin spray is easiest and less expensive, although the dust works too. At night, wearing a face mask, go out and spray every bird right off their roosts, and spray the entire coop too.
Mites and lice are easiest to see at night with a flashlight, around vents, necks, and under wings. Tiny little crawling critters, very nasty!
Mary

 

[richardbim]

Thank you all for responding. I will purchase the Permethrin spray. Should I just spray them with it? Do I need to rub it?
I did notice the mites around the vent area.

 

[richardbim]

Is it this one?

 

[Folly's place]

I get the Gordon's spray concentrate, available several places, including the local TSC.
Do get something that's labeled for poultry!
Mary

 

[Painted Calls]

I also use Gordon's. If this is the one you decide to go with, buy a spray bottle and mix according to directions on label. Spray (down to the skin) around vent, belly below vent, and under each wing. Spray inside coop and nesting boxes as well. Repeat every 7-10 days until the little nasties are gone.

 

[Painted Calls]

Is it this one? View attachment 2077039

That is meant as a repellant only. Like "Deep Woods Off". Just like Folly said, make sure whatever you choose to purchase is safe for use on poultry.