California - Northern

[Lynn Manes]

So are you Happy Chooks? Sorry, I meant to askthat in the last post

No, I am julie. Welcome back.

Hi Julie!How are you? Thanks for the welcome back

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Ok so I promised an ayam cemani rooster to someone in here. As usual I'm awful with names and can't remember who and now I can't find the post lol. To whoever I promised the cockerel to its ready and pm me. Thanks. Also I have a second ayam cemani cockerel available to anyone else that might be interested. Free to good home. Thanks.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Quote: I'll be picking it up today from Home Depot. Thank you, Ron!

I had the same problem last Fall. I washed the broodies (I had 2 with mites) with Dog flea and tick shampoo with permethrin in it, multiple times. I also dusted the coop with permethrin, multiple times. That did the trick for me. Then I moved them out of the coop a couple of days after the chicks hatched and put them in a different area. I had a little more advance warning though; sounds like the spinosad is something that works fast!

I have 2 broodies again right now & I am dealing with depluming mites; fortunately the broodies don't seem to be affected; mostly just two or three other hens. I just gave mine ivermectin & washed them with ringworm shampoo & I'm crossing my fingers.

Good luck with your hatch @SilkiesForEver
Make sure you post some pics of the chickies!

I've been dusting and cleaning their coop every week, but I think they mites may be resistant to the dust that I have. Finally I just moved them to a different coop, and I'll use the spinosad now.

Thanks! Last night I checked on the eggs and was thrilled to find a little bbred chick.

I'll post pictures when there are more and when they are fluffy.

Quote: I usually use D.E to just make sure they don't get parasites, and it has worked great in the past, just not this year. I think the amount of hot days we've been having has just helped the mites thrive. I did some research and Spinosad is actually organic and biodegradable. So hopefully it's safe and effective.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

@ronott1 One other question, how do I treat them with it?

 

[ronott1]

@ronott1 One other question, how do I treat them with it?

It is a concentrate. Mix it with water at the rate for garden bugs and then spray the chicken with it--like you would with liquid pyrethrim. Also spray the nest boxes. I would repeat every 7 to 10 days for at least three weeks.

Spinosad will degrade faster in sunlight--lasts about a day there. In dark places it lasts longer.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Quote: Spray on the surface of the bird? Or down between the feathers?

The mites are crawling over the broody's face, and there are some on the chick's face as well. Is it safe to spray on their faces as long as I cover their eyes and ears?

 

[ronott1]

Spray on the surface of the bird? Or down between the feathers?

The mites are crawling over the broody's face, and there are some on the chick's face as well. Is it safe to spray on their faces as long as I cover their eyes and ears?

Put some on your finger(wear exam gloves) and then apply the spinosad close to the eyes. Spray as much of them as possible--especially around the vent and under the wings.

You should see a quick reduction in mites.

Poor Broody and chicks!

 

[jenniferlamar70]

Just curious how do you know if your chicken has mites? Can you see them?

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Quote: Ok sounds good.

Unfortunately, neither Lowes, nor Home Depot had spinosad. So I'll order it online and try to have it come quick.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

Just curious how do you know if your chicken has mites? Can you see them?

Yes. Mine have northern fowl mites, and unlike the red mite (which only feed at night and live in cracks and crevices), they feed and live solely on the bird. I can see them crawling over my bird's faces plain as day.