Problem:
I've got a heavy mite infestation in my flock of Black Java's. This has come as a huge surprise to me, as I'm fairly obsessive about the cleanliness of the coop. This is my third set of broodies this spring and I suspect that the constant presence of a hen in the box has lead to some of this problem.
Steps I've taken:
1. Sevin dust (shake and bake style) all broodies. Taken out eggs of nest, removed all bedding. Sevin dusted cracks along edges of wooden nest boxes. Replaced bedding with new pine shavings. Replaced eggs. Replaced broody, who was less than pleasant about it all.
2. Changed all litter in coop, sevin dusted along edges of wall/floor and roost/wall. Replaced bedding with new pine shavings.
3. At night, sevin dusted remaining birds who were ranging during the above steps. So birds were treated at 10am (broodies) and 9pm (remaining flock).
Questions:
1. Eggs are set to hatch in literally a few days (perhaps as few as 3? or as many as 7?). What should I be doing to make sure mites do not get on chicks?
2. I will re-do above steps taken in six days (as I did this all yesterday). Anything further I should consider adding to steps above?
3. Some of the nest boxes have nest box liners in them (those plastic fake grass style - here: http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/prod1;ft1_poultry_equipment-ft1_egg_handling;4d7f4bc8.html ) and the mites are all over them. I've washed them with a garden hose far from coop, put sevin dust under them - but with all those little crevices, I'm concerned the mites are still in there!
Thank you for any helpful BTDT tips or suggestions. The flock is 15 Black Javas (14 hens, 1 roo). So finding the mites on them is near to impossible due to their black feathers! Even finding eggs is a challenge, as they are exceptionally fluffly birds (down feathers plus top feathers). I'm concerned about the eggs and more concerned about the hens!
I've got a heavy mite infestation in my flock of Black Java's. This has come as a huge surprise to me, as I'm fairly obsessive about the cleanliness of the coop. This is my third set of broodies this spring and I suspect that the constant presence of a hen in the box has lead to some of this problem.
Steps I've taken:
1. Sevin dust (shake and bake style) all broodies. Taken out eggs of nest, removed all bedding. Sevin dusted cracks along edges of wooden nest boxes. Replaced bedding with new pine shavings. Replaced eggs. Replaced broody, who was less than pleasant about it all.
2. Changed all litter in coop, sevin dusted along edges of wall/floor and roost/wall. Replaced bedding with new pine shavings.
3. At night, sevin dusted remaining birds who were ranging during the above steps. So birds were treated at 10am (broodies) and 9pm (remaining flock).
Questions:
1. Eggs are set to hatch in literally a few days (perhaps as few as 3? or as many as 7?). What should I be doing to make sure mites do not get on chicks?
2. I will re-do above steps taken in six days (as I did this all yesterday). Anything further I should consider adding to steps above?
3. Some of the nest boxes have nest box liners in them (those plastic fake grass style - here: http://www.farmtek.com/farm/supplies/prod1;ft1_poultry_equipment-ft1_egg_handling;4d7f4bc8.html ) and the mites are all over them. I've washed them with a garden hose far from coop, put sevin dust under them - but with all those little crevices, I'm concerned the mites are still in there!
Thank you for any helpful BTDT tips or suggestions. The flock is 15 Black Javas (14 hens, 1 roo). So finding the mites on them is near to impossible due to their black feathers! Even finding eggs is a challenge, as they are exceptionally fluffly birds (down feathers plus top feathers). I'm concerned about the eggs and more concerned about the hens!