Mites

[apryl29]

Thanks for the info! I wanted to give the nesting boxes another spray before I put them back in and will be adding a couple spots so the can dust inside in the winter. Those should all be back in this morning. Then I'm going to tackle the run. We actually have 2 sections so I'll clean the larger area first so they can go outside while I deal w the smaller section. Then I've got to deal w the rooster.. I was considering soaking him to be sure I get all his butt feathers. I noticed last week that my rooster never dust bathes and I wonder of that's why he seems to have worse mites than the others. Even my little bantam roo will dust bathe.

 

[Eggcessive]

I am not a fan of DE (diatomatacious earth,) since it can be dangerous to both chickens and humans if breathed in, and to bees. I would burn the old bedding if possible, but don't start a forest fire. Treat the chickens, then empty the bedding. Spray the walls, roosts, and floor, while the chickens are outside during the day, then replace the bedding.

 

[apryl29]

We did burn it, we tossed in an old pallet and I burned a few things from the coop I didn't want to bother cleaning. I'm concerned about the De too esp out in the run bc they peck at the ground, in the coop they also eat off the floor. Do you think I'd be ok skipping the De in the run since is put the poultry dust on the birds? Am I supposed to use the dust on them again after the next clean out too?

 

[Eggcessive]

You will need to treat them at least twice at 7 day intervals to get the newly hatched mites. I don't even recommend DE at all. They use it a lot in England and the UK because pesticides are harder to find. Permethrin is one of the safest. Here are 2 good links about mites with pics:
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html
anrcatalog.ucanr.edu/pdf/8162.pdf
This is one recommended by TheChickenChick who consults with vets before blogging:


ELECTOR PSP for POULTRY & Premises - ELANCO - spinosad 44.2% - spinosyn
Brand: ELECTOR ® PSP (in Europe ELECTOR ®)
Company: ELANCO

 

[apryl29]

I cleaned my rooster, Odin, today. He's in a separate, but adjacent area. He had a ton of mites. They were all over his tail area and I also saw them crawling around on his back and chest. His skin looks red and irritated all over. I did not see this on my other birds so I think he was probably the one who got infested and spread it to the others. Other than that it could be that the others dust bathe and he doesn't. Either way I treated him and covered his legs in Bag Balm. His house is a Rubbermaid tote that I cut a hole in, temporary. When I opened it up it had mites all around the lid. I sprayed it, rinsed it off and sprayed it again. I burnt the palate that I had it on, then scraped the space with a rake and shovel. When I checked him later I saw dead mites on him, and some living. Thankfully the poultry dust seems to be working. I found a lot of his feathers around the yard and in his space. One I looked at had both dead and living mites. This is new. Before today I hasn't seen such a large amt of feathers, I'm hoping that means I caught things fairly early.

 

[apryl29]

A co-worker asked me if it was safe to eat the eggs while I'm treating them to the mites. Are they okay to eat? And if not what should I do with them?

 

[apryl29]

Update.. I've been burying the eggs in the garden, crushed. I figured if the insecticide is on the chickens and eggs are porous it's better to toss them. I have a major surplus anyway.. I cleaned the coop and the roo's area today. I didn't see a single mite. I checked a few of the girls throughout the week and saw nothing then either. Odin was still ripping out his feathers, but I didn't see any mites on him either. I soaked him in some warm water w a splash of ACV. It did get the gross stuff out of his feathers and he seemed to be doing better after it. I dug through his feathers and see a lot of new growth, but no bugs. I sprayed the coop again, and put poultry dust on all the birds, but Odin b/c he was damp. I'll dust him tomorrow. I didn't put any DE in the coop this time since I sprayed it, plus I felt that all the mites were gone. I'll clean it out again next weekend, and provided I don't see any more parasites I'll be done w/ the treatment. Thank you for all your help. It really helps having people who have experience it give advice.

 

[Hiyaherc]

Apryl I am glad to hear that the treatments and cleaning is working. Also Odin may be going into a molt and that is why you are seeing a lot of feathers. I have a couple of girls in various stages of the molt right now. Make sure you clean up the feathers in the pen and run area inasmuch as the mites can live on the feathers for several months even though they are not on the bird and the rest of the flock can be re-infected with them. Make sure you dispose of them as far away from the coop as possible. Thanks for the update and keep us posted.

 

[Eggcessive]

Good to hear that your treatments have helped. According to what I have read, getting rid of mites completely is very difficult, but I hope that you have success.

 

[apryl29]

I think Odin is too young to molt, he was hatched in Feb. I have been cleaning up his feathers, there seemed to be less today after. I was worried they'd blow in w the other chickens. They all seem to be doing better now. At least I'm better prepared for the next time.