Cleaning the Coop: What Should I Do?

[Chicken Lover 1]

This weekend I am going to clean the coop. I have a mite problem. My coop is as big as a living room with concrete floors. What is some stuff I should do.

 

[Hennyhandler]

I am in the same boat you are in. I have only one bird showing signs but I am going to clean everything out. I am planning on cleaning everything out and then dust it down with sevin dust and some other spray that starts with a T. I can't remember the name of it. I will have to look at it and get back. Then I am going to dust every bird and put some flea and tick spray on the base of their necks probably. Then put in new shavings and hay and put the birds back in. I hope this is going to take care of it. If you have any other thoughts let me know.

 

[Chicken Lover 1]

I heard your suppose to put diomtash (cant spell that) earth underneath the shavings.

 

[Chicken Lover 1]

Hey any ideas the weekend is coming up

 

[JeffOeuf]

It is diatomaceous earth. Get food grade...that is important. I would try it first, by itself without the Sevin. You most likely will eliminate your problem without spreading some pretty potent chemicals all over your coop and birds. Dust the birds with DE, clean the coop thoroughly and dry thoroughly, then spread DE everywhere, with particular attention to corners, nooks and crannies (that's where the mites hide). It will help keep your coop dry, too.

 

[debid]

I used Green Light fruit tree spray and a backpack sprayer when I did mine. The active ingredients are an exact match to the drops sold for ear mites. I figured that if it's safe enough to apply directly to the birds, it should be fine in the coop. Saturated everything, let it dry. I dusted the birds themselves and the area under their nestbox liners with a poultry dust that uses pyrethrin as the insecticide. They did not enjoy being dusted but lots of treats helped.

Best of luck with your cleaning!

BTW, I used stuff I had on hand. I have some Sevin that I used sparingly around eggplants to stop a particularly bad flea beetle infestation but that's a product of last resort for me.