Another northern fowl mite question

[The Lazy Farm Girl]

We've been battling NFM for about 3 weeks now. I don't know how long the flock was infested before we discovered mites crawling on us after handling the chickens.

We upped the game yesterday after I saw dozens of mites traveling along my rooster's tail, pre-dawn, in the coop cam. We emptied the coop and soaked it with permethrin inside and out, sprayed the run and surrounding yard, and spot-sprayed the chickens, soaking under their tails, wings, and hitting spots around their necks and bellies. New hemp is in the coop, sprinkled with permethrin dust, with peppermint and lavender herbs mixed in. The chickens still have clumpy butt feathers. Still to do is a full rake, clean, and spray of the surrounding yard, and a redo of the coop and run after 5 days.

The chickens are confined to their run where wild birds can't visit.

This morning I could still see mites on the rooster's tail feathers, although only a few.

1) Is seeing a few mites after less than 24 hours ok?

2) How long does permethrin remain active after it dries? I haven't been able to find an answer.

We're still going to add sulphur bags to the coop door and around the areas in the run where they congregate. We have 6 chickens.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You generally need to treat weekly for 3-4 weeks to break the life cycle. I have o my used the dust. Usually I treat a few times and than as necessary for maintenance.

 

[The Lazy Farm Girl]

You generally need to treat weekly for 3-4 weeks to break the life cycle. I have o my used the dust. Usually I treat a few times and than as necessary for maintenance.

Thank you. I expected to have to treat for a while; I just assumed that I wouldn't see any critters until the next round of eggs hatched, so seeing them this morning was disappointing.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Thank you. I expected to have to treat for a while; I just assumed that I wouldn't see any critters until the next round of eggs hatched, so seeing them this morning was disappointing.

My guess is you irritated them which makes them try to seek out a new place to live. Seeing more tells me it's working. Just keep at it and eventually you will mostly eradicate them. I'm not you can ever completely get rid of them all because wild birds bring them in.

 

[CoopCareLior]

We've been battling NFM for about 3 weeks now. I don't know how long the flock was infested before we discovered mites crawling on us after handling the chickens.

We upped the game yesterday after I saw dozens of mites traveling along my rooster's tail, pre-dawn, in the coop cam. We emptied the coop and soaked it with permethrin inside and out, sprayed the run and surrounding yard, and spot-sprayed the chickens, soaking under their tails, wings, and hitting spots around their necks and bellies. New hemp is in the coop, sprinkled with permethrin dust, with peppermint and lavender herbs mixed in. The chickens still have clumpy butt feathers. Still to do is a full rake, clean, and spray of the surrounding yard, and a redo of the coop and run after 5 days.

The chickens are confined to their run where wild birds can't visit.

This morning I could still see mites on the rooster's tail feathers, although only a few.

1) Is seeing a few mites after less than 24 hours ok?

2) How long does permethrin remain active after it dries? I haven't been able to find an answer.

We're still going to add sulphur bags to the coop door and around the areas in the run where they congregate. We have 6 chickens.

Honestly it sounds like you did a pretty thorough job already, especially getting into the coop and hitting the birds directly.
Seeing a few mites less than a day later isn’t really unusual with these. There are always some that hide in spots you can’t quite reach, and then you’ve got eggs hatching right after.

That’s usually why it feels like they’re “still there” even after a strong treatment.

With northern fowl mites it’s more about staying on top of the cycle than expecting it to be gone overnight. If you’re already down to just a few, that’s actually a really good sign.

At that point it’s mostly: 1. hitting it again at the right timing 2.
keeping an eye on the usual spots (under tail, around the vent, feather shafts) 3. not backing off too early
From what you’re describing, you probably knocked it down a lot already, now it’s just finishing the job.