Depluming 😭

[Giantmoma]

Aaaahhhh I am so sorry for you, definitely not the answer I was hoping for! I literally feel for you and the itching, I constantly have that skin crawling feeling too. Mutant mites and bugs, that's gotta be it Sending positive and hopeful vibes your way that you can conquer the battle. Holler if you do find what works for you and keep us updated!

I understand that feeling!! Please let me know if you find something that works too! These things are horrific! My poor gals.

 

[Giantmoma]

I don't have any advice I'm afraid!
But I really hope you're able to solve the situation soon!!
and

Thank you

 

[Chickens are awsome]

Welcome to BYC!

 

[cmom]

You have to use the permethrin solution weekly

for 3 or 4 weeks to break the cycle. I hope your mixture is correct. Good luck...

 

[Giantmoma]

You have to use the permethrin solution weekly View attachment 3108726for 3 or 4 weeks to break the cycle. I hope your mixture is correct. Good luck...

Thank you! I thought I got close to rid of them but they are back!! I'm starting to wonder if I'm bringing them back from our local feed store. I was obsessively cleaning and replacing pine from tractor supply. These last 2 times I got the pine from our feed store. Seems like I'm back where I started. I put DE in it. I've decided to only get from tractor supply from now on. I live in a small town and have to make a long drive to tractor supply. Since I was buying the pine, I also bought 20% protein feed there. You weight it out yourself into bags. I noticed the scratch and peck bin had rat poop in it so that does make me wonder if I brought rat mites home and I'm dealing with a completely different type of mite you can't see them on the birds but they look like cracked pepper in the tub I used for a sulfur dip. When I washed out the tub, I let it soak in bleach water. There were all these white floating clumps with some "pepper" spots in them. I'm assuming they are larvae, nymphs, or eggs. Some tried to attach themselves to the side of the tub before they I wish we had a vet here that takes chickens.

 

[janiedoe]

Thank you! I thought I got close to rid of them but they are back!! I'm starting to wonder if I'm bringing them back from our local feed store. I was obsessively cleaning and replacing pine from tractor supply. These last 2 times I got the pine from our feed store. Seems like I'm back where I started. I put DE in it. I've decided to only get from tractor supply from now on. I live in a small town and have to make a long drive to tractor supply. Since I was buying the pine, I also bought 20% protein feed there. You weight it out yourself into bags. I noticed the scratch and peck bin had rat poop in it so that does make me wonder if I brought rat mites home and I'm dealing with a completely different type of mite you can't see them on the birds but they look like cracked pepper in the tub I used for a sulfur dip. When I washed out the tub, I let it soak in bleach water. There were all these white floating clumps with some "pepper" spots in them. I'm assuming they are larvae, nymphs, or eggs. Some tried to attach themselves to the side of the tub before they I wish we had a vet here that takes chickens.

I'd have serious doubts about buying from them. The food might be contaminated too. I know all feed stores have some rats, but that's nasty. They need some cats!
I feel your pain. We are 25 minutes from the closest feed stores and 30 from any chain stores. Opposite here, though. I don't buy anything from TSC anymore. They have moldy, buggy food too often. Our local feed stores are much cleaner. They have cats too. which are much preferred to

 

[featherhead007]

Wow, bugs! Sorry to hear about that. (Mine have some also) but, welcome to the coop!

 

[Giantmoma]

We have 4

I'd have serious doubts about buying from them. The food might be contaminated too. I know all feed stores have some rats, but that's nasty. They need some cats!
I feel your pain. We are 25 minutes from the closest feed stores and 30 from any chain stores. Opposite here, though. I don't buy anything from TSC anymore. They have moldy, buggy food too often. Our local feed stores are much cleaner. They have cats too. which are much preferred to

Bar

I'd have serious doubts about buying from them. The food might be contaminated too. I know all feed stores have some rats, but that's nasty. They need some cats!
I feel your pain. We are 25 minutes from the closest feed stores and 30 from any chain stores. Opposite here, though. I don't buy anything from TSC anymore. They have moldy, buggy food too often. Our local feed stores are much cleaner. They have cats too. which are much preferred too

I'd have serious doubts about buying from them. The food might be contaminated too. I know all feed stores have some rats, but that's nasty. They need some cats!
I feel your pain. We are 25 minutes from the closest feed stores and 30 from any chain stores. Opposite here, though. I don't buy anything from TSC anymore. They have moldy, buggy food too often. Our local feed stores are much cleaner. They have cats too. which are much preferred to

We have 4 barn cats on the ranch. They are a must! From contaminated well filters, animal food storage, electrical fires, roof rats in the barn, gophers eating and digging up crops as well as holes under the foundation of buildings, cats work! Our humane society even gives away " worker cats." The ones that were too feral to re-home. They clip it's ear so it doesn't get picked up by them again. They know they are working! I'm on a few acres and the only thing close to us is the horse arena and people that work/ run it, plus visitors that camp up for rodeos and roping practice. Those 4 cats help everyone!

 

[janiedoe]

We have 4

Bar



We have 4 barn cats on the ranch. They are a must! From contaminated well filters, animal food storage, electrical fires, roof rats in the barn, gophers eating and digging up crops as well as holes under the foundation of buildings, cats work! Our humane society even gives away " worker cats." The ones that were too feral to re-home. They clip it's ear so it doesn't get picked up by them again. They know they are working! I'm on a few acres and the only thing close to us is the horse arena and people that work/ run it, plus visitors that camp up for rodeos and roping practice. Those 4 cats help everyone!

I wish your local shelter were the rule, rather than the exception. I believe catch, spay/neuter, and release is the best way to handle the cat,  and the rat/gopher/snake population.
Off topic but, I enjoy watching the squirrels around here. They are entertaining and friendly, but a couple of years ago, one chewed up wires in my car! All the warning lights came on at once. Fortunately my son found, and repaired the problem, before I spent a fortune at the repair shop. These squirrels can be a menace too. The cats help keep them (somewhat) under control too.

 

[Giantmoma]

So far;

Been spraying 13.5 percent permethrin premise spray

Ivermectin pour on and fenbendaloze because it's a good time of year to deworm too

Elector psp but it was a big waste of money

DE, Seven dust, sulfur powder, wood ash EVERYWHERE including dust baths and nesting boxes. Put barn lime under everything, like hanging waters and under nesting boxes





Sulfur dip after antiseptic antiparasitic coal tar shampoo



Placed in new coop built with cedar outside and separated with pine inside except for 1 vented 8x16 pine side without cedar. Cedar on the outside because its a natural repellent but can be toxic.

Built new coop on the complete opposite side of yard than the last coop.

Stopped free ranging ONLY UNTIL I KNOW IT'S FOR SURE OVER WITH!


Bought 2 metal runs covered with shade cloth tops so wild birds can't drop stuff in.

Put heavy duty plastic under the pine shavings so I can rake and power wash easily as well as kill whatever is under it.


Got a propane torch so I can burn all the shaving, feathers, and poop that finds its way out of the coop/run

Switched from wood nesting boxes to plastic so I can pull out and pressure wash without hiding spots

I'm also using aluminum ladders for roosting so they can't hide in the wood and can be power washed.

In between power washes sterifab sprayed before

Garlic juice, dawn dish soap, and oil spray on things.

Garlic and oragano oil in the water as well as the feed.

Shoes and smocks for coop only!

I'm losing my mind trying to figure this out! I have to be bringing into them from somewhere. Whatever this is! My poor Sammy Sammich is so bald that it looks like she's all ready to throw in the oven! All my Buff Orpingtons have it worse. All my Plymouths seem fine besides my Cali. My blue gems are having a hard time too but not like my Orpingtons. My Jersey's are flaking but not balding. My Reds and Wyandottes are missing a few spots
Of feathers on their backs and my Easter eggers, roos and hens, are just fine. I have a few bantams that seem fine too.