California - Northern

[ronott1]

@Granny368W

BYC was updated this morning--the site was down for quite some time. Hopefully the upload problem has been fixed!

Please try posting again.

 

[SilkiesForEver]

So, I've got a broody hen with eggs due this Wednesday. Only problem is, she has mites. I've been battling the horrible things for months now, dusting every other week, and sometimes every week. I seriously can't get rid of them, and they are driving me nuts.

What should I do? I'm worried that the chicks will die if they become infested, and I don't think I should dust them, seeing as how young they would be.

 

[ronott1]

So, I've got a broody hen with eggs due this Wednesday. Only problem is, she has mites. I've been battling the horrible things for months now, dusting every other week, and sometimes every week. I seriously can't get rid of them, and they are driving me nuts.

What should I do? I'm worried that the chicks will die if they become infested, and I don't think I should dust them, seeing as how young they would be.

Get some spinosad--It has very low toxicity--You can use the same concentration on the label for garden bugs.

https://www.amazon.com/Bonide-252-C...=UTF8&qid=1472510665&sr=8-2&keywords=spinosad

 

[Stephine]

Try elemental sulphur!

 

[ronott1]

Try elemental sulphur!

She needs to use the spinosad--chicks can die from mites. Sulfur is good as a deterrent but not so much as a treatment. The same is true with DE too.

Spinosad is the best thing to use now.

 

[Honora]

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!

 

[h2oratt]

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!

How are the Brodie's come along? Are they in the zone?, lol.

 

[Honora]

How are the Brodie's come along? Are they in the zone?, lol.

They are doing ok. They are sharing a nest box & sometimes they fight over the eggs. Hopefully they will get along once the chicks hatch. One of them co-parented with another hen last Fall & she did fine but the other one has never had a broody buddy before, lol.

I just candled the ones in the incubator & it looks like 4 are developing but I haven't candled the ones under the hens yet.

 

[Stephine]

She needs to use the spinosad--chicks can die from mites. Sulfur is good as a deterrent but not so much as a treatment. The same is true with DE too.

Spinosad is the best thing to use now.

Sulfur kills mites and is non toxic.

 

[ronott1]

Sulfur kills mites and is non toxic.

I know people that have had mite infections and sulfur did not work. With chicks involved, I would go for the stuff that is recommended to work. There is a reason why commercial places use the recommended treatments, because they work. I believe that Organic places will use stuff like sulfur because they have to in order to stay organic.

Question I like to ask is would you treat your children or Dogs with this? Do you give your dogs and cats frontline? If so, treat your chickens the same.(not with frontline though, use treatments that are for birds. Spinosad is on label for poultry.