Treating newly hatched chicks for mites

[mmikke]

Hello wonderful community members.
Hopefully this is posted in the right place, apologies if it's not.

We recently had a hen get really broody, and one night when we went out to candle some of the eggs, we noticed that the poor girl was swarming with mites.

I clean the coop bi-weekly and have never noticed them, other hens don't have any issues, etc. I mix in some DE with their coop litter but I've since read many people saying that they don't find it effective at all.

On to my main question. How can I successfully treat these new babies, and their mom? We have a bottle of chicken dust(with permethrin) on the way in the mail, but I recently picked up permethrin 10 from a local store.
Obviously I can't treat the whole coop while they're in there, but I have researched how to spray/treat the birds themselves.
I am wondering if it would be safe to apply the diluted mixture (.65oz per gallon of water) to the chicks? I was considering using a q-tip or something to gently apply it around their vents and under their wings, and then holding them until the treatment fully dries.

The babies are still under the hen quite a bit throughout the day. Would spraying her be a bad idea if we made sure to let the treatment fully dry before placing her back in the coop?

I'm really worried about the chicks not making it, as I've read just how devastating mites can be to young chicks. Thanks in advance!

 

[nuthatched]

Dust should be perfectly fine.

 

[MomJones]

Hi Mmikke, I'm sorry no one responded to this post last year, it's a good question. I've been keeping chickens for a few years now, currently have 34.

• Your babies and mom should be just fine for now.
• Applying diatomaceous earth is good,
• Leave the poisons (permethrin) out of their living spaces though, unless you want real problems. Permethrin is not healthy nor is it safe for chickens. Permethrin is considered a carcinogen according to the WHO.
• Generally speaking, it's best to have a dust bathing area where you can add DE, clean wood ash, and lime to the dirt where they dust bathe. That should take care of any future mite problems.

 

[nuthatched]

Hi Mmikke, I'm sorry no one responded to this post last year, it's a good question. I've been keeping chickens for a few years now, currently have 34.

• Your babies and mom should be just fine for now.
• Applying diatomaceous earth is good,
• Leave the poisons (permethrin) out of their living spaces though, unless you want real problems. Permethrin is not healthy nor is it safe for chickens. Permethrin is considered a carcinogen according to the WHO.
• Generally speaking, it's best to have a dust bathing area where you can add DE, clean wood ash, and lime to the dirt where they dust bathe. That should take care of any future mite problems.

This post is from 20 minutes ago, not last year.
Unfortunately d.e shreds a birds delicate respiratory system and yours. I wouldn't recommend it.

 

[mmikke]

This post is from 20 minutes ago, not last year.
Unfortunately d.e shreds a birds delicate respiratory system and yours. I wouldn't recommend it.

Before any of the eggs hatched, we'd dust momma hen pretty good each night with DE and doesn't seem like it made one bit of a difference.
Apple cider vinegar spray neither

 

[nuthatched]

Before any of the eggs hatched, we'd dust momma hen pretty good each night with DE and doesn't seem like it made one bit of a difference.
Apple cider vinegar spray neither

DE is ineffective and there's nothing in acv that will do anything for pests, unfortunately.