Calling All BYC'ers!

[Swissmiss989]

I really need your help please!

I have lost a little 1yr old hen to, what I believe were northern fowl mites.
I found my roo infested so I dusted him and I am on my 3rd coop cleaning with seven and DE. My roo was doing well but all of a sudden hes not eating, thin, and hunched over and wobblie. He has been treated with ivermec (a week before seven dust).

whats wrong? Am I not treating him right? Is he doomed to die? I really dont want to lose my baby. Please advise. His poops are runny also.

 

[StandardLover]

I am guessing that he is losing too much blood from the mites. I would suggest giving him a good salt bath (kills mites), vinegar bath(dissolves eggs), soap bath(kills more mites and gets salt and vinegar off), and then regular water bath (get dead mites off and soap.). That is what we did organically for lice. Also dust after to prevent them from coming back. It works very well!https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/380228/natural-organic-chicken-lice-treatment Then I would suggest to seperate him from the coop because your coop is probably infested. Take all your birds from the coop for a little while to give them a rest. Clean out the corners, remove bedding, and change your roof if it is felt. Try to look around for them where they are hiding. I am sorry to hear you have such a problem, mites are nasty creatures.

Are you sure they are mites? Do they have eight legs?

 

[StandardLover]

Oh I forgot to say that this method is good because water gets everywhere, the dust doesn't always get everywhere. Good luck! I hope your roo gets better!

 

[Swissmiss989]

I cant tell. They are so tiny they are like little red and black dots moving around the feathers and for me my arms (ewwww!) The base of the feathers are a crusty brown/gold color. I thought it was mud at 1st then found them nasty bug things! Its a silkie and I dont see them on any part of the body but their heads. Not sure why. Am I wrong could they be something else? Is a mite big enough to count their legs? Also I see them during the day and night! Ugh!

 

[BrownSheep]

I've actually used frontline to get rid of leg mites, maybe it would work for you. sorry im not more help just though I'ld throw in an idea

 

[Swissmiss989]

Could these bugs be something other then mites?

 

[StandardLover]

If they were red, they sound like mites because they turn red after they drink blood. I would suggest the salt bath above, and seperate him because he is losing too much blood.