Are mites transferable to humans?

[Billjr]

My hen has been acting sluggish, and has a messy backside, so I went to get some worm medicine, wazine, and mixed up a gallon according to direction. I decided to wash her backside up, so I poured a warm bath with some dial antibacterial soap for a little lather. I cleaned her up and was drying her off when I saw black "dust" crawling across my hand. I looked at them with a magnifying glass and the are not black but a dark reddish color. Mites right? I will pick up some dust tomorrow for the birds. Which is the best? I'm also worried about me and my house. Are these little buggers gonna eat me alive and infest my house.

 

[Ridgerunner]

The mites are host specific. They will not live and breed on you. They should soon leave you, but it is still a creepy feeling.

I use 5% Sevin dust. Plenty of other products that work. Whatever you use to dust them, wear a dust mask.

 

[Billjr]

Thanks for the reply. Any specific brand of mite/lice powder you like most? Do you apply it to the whole bird, face and all or just below the neck. Will it hurt them if it gets in their eyes and throat?

 

[Ridgerunner]

No, just the 5% Sevin dust, whichever brand is available.

I dust the whole bird, but do not hit them directly in the face with the dust. Getting a bit in their eyes and throat is not good for them but should not do any permanent damage. The mites or lice will do more damage in the long run. I do it outside, out of the wind but where it is really well ventilated. And I change nest material and dust the nest and the coop, especially if it is roost mites. If I had one of those small elevated coops, I'd probably change all the litter, but I don't, so I don't. I just sprinkle some on the litter. This does not kill the eggs, so you need to repeat in 10 to 14 days.

From what I gather on here, most people seem to make a dust pad, like putting the dust in an old sock, then give the birds a good dusting. I just sprinkle it on and rub it in with my hand. I figure I'm going to get it all over me anyway and I'm going to take a bath right afterwards. However, just find what's more comfortable for you.

The way I do it is to lock them in the coop, catch one and take it outside and dust it, turn it loose in the run, and get another. I leave the rooster until last so he doesn't feel like he has to protet his girls through this procedure. He's never attacked me but why go out of my way to give him and excuse.

There are different methods. A lot of people are happy with a spray instead of the dust, I think a permethrin if I spelled that right. I haven't tried it since I have the Sevin here for use in my garden. I could see where a spray might be more convenient.

Good luck.

 

[Billjr]

I have permethrin spray which I used on my hunting clothes. It is not to be sprayed on the skin according to the label. It was to be sprayed on the clothes then allowed to dry before wearing. I guess I'll dust the birds with the sevin 5% and spray the coop with the permethrin. Thanks again.