Bald Hen - Scaly Leg Mites? Using DE correctly?

[BoiseChik]

Hi, We have 10 hens that are just over a year old. We've had some scaly leg mites in the past and treated in by rubbing vaseline on all the hens legs. We did that for about a week and it seemed to clear up. We also bought DE and used it to sprinkle in the coop, in their run, dust baths, and nesting boxes. Now the scaly leg mites seem to be back, showing symptoms on about half of the hens. And one of the hens has a pretty bald looking head now with feather loss and skin discoloration on her head and comb. I just read on this website that sometimes Scaly leg mites can be on their heads. Is that what is going on here, and what should I do about it? Also, if I'm using the DE everywhere, why has the scaly leg mites come back? The bottom two pictures show the typical amount of DE spread in the nesting boxes and coop.
amount of

 

[Judy]

Because DE doesn't eliminate any pest, although it will reduce the population of some. Here is a link with great details about treating scaly leg mites that will get rid of them:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/845321/ivermectin-for-worms-and-mites/0_20#post_12552595

 

[BoiseChik]

I thought DE killed bugs... Oh brother, I bought a huge bag of it from the feed store. How about the bald headed chicken?

 

[Judy]

It does, to a point. DE kills certain soft bodied insects by scratching them so that they dehydrate, or at least that's the theory -- maybe also proven, I don't know. It does work on things like tomato and broccoli worms, above ground, but won't work below ground on things like cutworms. I dont think mites and lice are soft bodied enough to get a good kill. There are lots of threads here about failure to eliminate them with DE. Maybe it helps control them by getting the youngest ones at the stage of their life where they are soft, but that's pure guesswork. Some people feed it to their chickens to kill worms, but I promise you, it doesn't work on worms internally. It is a dessicating agent and controls pests in feed, and is routinely mixed in feed. It gives a nice knockdown on ants. I know at one time they were working on usingit to stop fire ants; I assume the problem was getting it to the queen and/or actually killing the colony. It dries poop so discourages flies, to a degree. It is also very irritating to the respiratory tract, so if used around chickens, please use sparingly, and wear a mask when handling.

 

[ozexpat]

It does, to a point.  DE kills certain soft bodied insects by scratching them so that they dehydrate, or at least that's the theory -- maybe also proven, I don't know.  It does work on things like tomato and broccoli worms, above ground, but won't work below ground on things like cutworms.  I dont think mites and lice are soft bodied enough to get a good kill.  There are lots of threads here about failure to eliminate them with DE.  Maybe it helps control them by getting the youngest ones at the stage of their life where they are soft, but that's pure guesswork.  Some people feed it to their chickens to kill worms, but I promise you, it doesn't work on worms internally.  It is a dessicating agent and controls pests in feed, and is routinely mixed in feed.  It gives a nice knockdown on ants. I know at one time they were working on usingit to stop fire ants; I assume the problem was getting it to the queen and/or actually killing the colony.   It dries poop so discourages flies, to a degree.  It is also very irritating to the respiratory tract, so if used around chickens, please use sparingly, and wear a mask when handling.

Great post. The myth that DE is a miracle substance needs to be debunked.

If I need to put a respirator on to spread it, how could it be good for my chickens lungs?

Many people have the misconception that if its organic its harmless.

 

[BoiseChik]

Okay I appreciate the info, and insight on DE. Can anyone give me an opinion or a diagnosis for my bald head? She used to have feathers on her head, and now she doesn't. What's wrong with her? And what should I do about it? I need some help.

 

[Judy]

I apologize. I actually should have given the link below in my first reply, as well. If it's due to mites or lice, then see the link below, which is an excellent article on these bugs and how to treat.

Many people have used Sevin 5% garden dust for years, although there are questions about it these days. There are a number of products around that are the prethrin/pyrethroid type, considered "safer" by many. Adams flea and tick spray for dogs used to provide this, as well as many "poultry dusts" or "poultry sprays" sold in feed stores.

Sometimes feather loss on heads is due to rooster mating, or just feather picking, although with feather picking you will problably see feather loss in other areas as well, such as their bottom or lower back.

http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf

Here is another article, by a vet, that I just found. Scroll down to the bottom for lice and mites.

http://www.vdl.umn.edu/prod/groups/cvm/@pub/@cvm/@vdl/documents/asset/cvm_asset_350829.pdf