Baby chicks have mites

[1stflockMama]

So a week ago I walked out and my girls were...devouring a wild bird.
Today as I was cuddling our 2 baby chicks I noticed I had a mite crawling on me, then another.
The chicks are a little over a week old.
What can I do to treat them?

 

[dawg53]

I recommend using Permethrin dust. Put a small amount on your fingers and gently rub onto the chicks skin, the whole body, and avoid the eyes. Take your time and have patience treating the chicks. You will also have to dust their brooder.

 

[FrizzledWyandotte7]

Food grade diatomaceous earth. Pick up the chick and gently spread the fluff to look for mites crawling on their skin or egg sacks near the base of feathers. Clean the bedding, dust with food grade diatomaceous earth or another treatment, and dust birds. Repeat dusting the birds until there are no more mites. Mites csn drown, too, so if they get old enough and you still can’t get rid of them try bathing them.

 

[Yardmom]

It will depend on the type of mites. Northern fowl mights only live on the birds, but some other mites require treatment of the whole coop.

 

[nuthatched]

Food grade diatomaceous earth. Pick up the chick and gently spread the fluff to look for mites crawling on their skin or egg sacks near the base of feathers. Clean the bedding, dust with food grade diatomaceous earth or another treatment, and dust birds. Repeat dusting the birds until there are no more mites. Mites csn drown, too, so if they get old enough and you still can’t get rid of them try bathing them.

I wouldn't recommend this, d.e has limited usefulness and can cause major respiratory system issues in you and especially birds.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

I recommend using Permethrin dust. Put a small amount on your fingers and gently rub onto the chicks skin, the whole body, and avoid the eyes. Take your time and have patience treating the chicks. You will also have to dust their brooder.

This. This is what I'd do.

 

[1stflockMama]

I recommend using Permethrin dust. Put a small amount on your fingers and gently rub onto the chicks skin, the whole body, and avoid the eyes. Take your time and have patience treating the chicks. You will also have to dust their brooder.

Thank you

 

[Eggcessive]

Do some reading since lice can also crawl on you, and both lice and mites can affect chickens. Birds can bring them in. Look at them with a magnifier. Mites can make them anemic, while lice are more of a bother. Mites are oval and have 8 legs, while lice have 6 legs are longer and narrow, move fast, and leave white clumps of eggs at the base of feathers. Permethrin dust is safe and can be dusted at 7-10 day intervals, and the coop should be treated after all bedding is removed. For coop and nests, it may be easier to use Maretins or Gordons permethrin 10 concentrate mixed with water 20 ml per gallon of water, used in a spray bottle or garden sprayer. Here is some reading about the types of mites and lice:
https://boulder.extension.colostate...ites/7/2021/04/Poultry-External-Parasites.pdf

https://poultryhealthinspection.ucdavis.edu/sites/g/files/dgvnsk6711/files/inline-files/Lice & Mites of Poultry - McCrea 8162_0.pdf

https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

 

[C Siena]

X3 for Permethrin