Dealing with mites

[TwistedTayy]

I have been fighting with mites (because I’ve been fighting rats… which have been dealt with) for a few weeks and I’m at my wits end. I have tried everything except elector psp. I saw First Saturday line pop up on my fb feed so I’m wondering if it’s worth giving that a try. White washing the coop etc. or should I not bother and bite the bullet with the elector. Money is tight right now but it’s spring and I have chicks which are more susceptible.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

What have you been treating the birds and housing with? Permethrin? How often?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

See @cmom post for product and dilutions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...hrin-elector-psp-please.1509445/post-25392547

 

[TwistedTayy]

What have you been treating the birds and housing with? Permethrin? How often?

Yeah weekly permethrin… but it’s not working well. I’ve been also using frontline spray on birds and dusting with sevin dust.

I know elector will do the trick but it’s SO expensive lol. So if lime wash will also work I’ll try that but if it won’t then I’ll bite the bullet

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Your treating the birds themselves, cleaning out the housing and treating it too right?

I've never used a lime wash so can't say how well it works.

I agree, Elector PSP is expensive, never used that either, but hear very good things about it.

 

[TwistedTayy]

See @cmom post for product and dilutions.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...hrin-elector-psp-please.1509445/post-25392547

I’ve been using the horse and stable concentrate at the directed concentration for poultry mites on the bottle, I believe 1:100. Using a 2.5gal sprayer. I treat inside and outside all coops (with chickens locked out and in depending which) and wait for it to dry before allowing access. I’ve been going through bedding like crazy.

It started in December when two Norwegian rats moved in to the shed which houses the ducks and then after trying to deal with them unsuccessfully it ballooned (as most rat problems do). After the introduction of two barn cats I see little evidence of any rats BUT the mites are still as numerous. I had two OEGB with severe infestation (they didn’t dust bathe ever) but I rehomed them to someone that’s shows them (I was clear they had mites) and was better suited to care for them. My other flock of chickens has evidence of them on their vents though not as bad as the OEGB (one or two) and I see them frequently on eggs.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

You need to treat both housing and the birds. Dust bathing alone won't treat the bugs that are on the birds if there's an infestation.

You can either use your spray on them according to the directions on the packaging or use a Permethrin poultry dust. I find it at TSC.
Personally, I like dust for the birds. I put it in a sock, which makes it easier to apply. Grab a bird, tap the sock onto their feathers to release a fine dust, then work the dust into the feathers down to skin. I dust all over, but try to focus around the tail, under the vent, between the legs, under the wings, etc. Places bugs like to accumulate and hide.
Repeat in 7 day intervals.

During treatment periods, I would use the minimum amount of bedding since your having to clean all that out. Spray down all your nesting boxes, nooks/crannies of your coop, the roosting bars, etc. Mites hide in the cracks and come out to feed at night, but a bad infestation, some will stay on the birds.

I'm sure it's frustrating, but keep at it. I think you may see some improvement if you dust the birds too.

 

[TwistedTayy]

You need to treat both housing and the birds. Dust bathing alone won't treat the bugs that are on the birds if there's an infestation.

You can either use your spray on them according to the directions on the packaging or use a Permethrin poultry dust. I find it at TSC.
Personally, I like dust for the birds. I put it in a sock, which makes it easier to apply. Grab a bird, tap the sock onto their feathers to release a fine dust, then work the dust into the feathers down to skin. I dust all over, but try to focus around the tail, under the vent, between the legs, under the wings, etc. Places bugs like to accumulate and hide.
Repeat in 7 day intervals.

During treatment periods, I would use the minimum amount of bedding since your having to clean all that out. Spray down all your nesting boxes, nooks/crannies of your coop, the roosting bars, etc. Mites hide in the cracks and come out to feed at night, but a bad infestation, some will stay on the birds.

I'm sure it's frustrating, but keep at it. I think you may see some improvement if you dust the birds too.

Yes I have been dusting with sevin dust (same main ingredient as elector, spinosad) and also using frontline spray on the vent area. It helps but only for a few days

 

[sandburRanch]

Clean the roost with Lye water and provide a dust bath of wood ashes .

For folks with large open areas where / when outdoor burning is permitted , using primitive tools ( Hammer and Cold Chisel ) , cut both ends from a barrel , ( barrel size doesn't matter ) set the remaining cylinder on 3 equidistant spaced bricks with the barrel cut out ends under the bricks . Use this for wood ash if fire place ash isn't available . The hens will find it .

The same can be used for confined chickens using a 5 gallon bucket or similar for small spaces .

A thought for those concerned about your birds not dust bathing after you've provided them with the best. It's common for humans to not bathe when not needed , so maybe chickens don't either .

 

[TwistedTayy]

Clean the roost with Lye water and provide a dust bath of wood ashes .

For folks with large open areas where / when outdoor burning is permitted , using primitive tools ( Hammer and Cold Chisel ) , cut both ends from a barrel , ( barrel size doesn't matter ) set the remaining cylinder on 3 equidistant spaced bricks with the barrel cut out ends under the bricks . Use this for wood ash if fire place ash isn't available . The hens will find it .

The same can be used for confined chickens using a 5 gallon bucket or similar for small spaces .

A thought for those concerned about your birds not dust bathing after you've provided them with the best. It's common for humans to not bathe when not needed , so maybe chickens don't either .

This is a great idea for future. They were just little shoe bred OEGB that were housed indoor in wire cages until I got them. They barely used roosts