Dog and cat tick and mite power for chickens?

[Ruth and mermaid]

Hi everyone. Hope someone can give me some advice? I live in somewhere where it is not easy to get hold of the products recommended for dealing with mites and fleas with out exporting it from abroad. For example, I can't get hold of food grade DE.

Can we use a dusting power designed for cats and dogs? It's a pesticide free one and called 'Dinos tick and flea off powder'. It doesn't give much information about what's in it - it says it contains food grade natural minerals and neem extract. Attached are some photos of the product.

Do you know if I could use this in the corners of the coup as well as dust the chickens with it?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

 

[cmom]

Not knowing where you live, don't know whats available for you. I use dust and spray with permethrin. It is not good for cats so not recommended for them. I bought a 50# bag of DE and after a couple of weeks using it my birds were still covered with mites that is when I discovered permethrin. I does take awhile to work because it does not kill the mite eggs so it takes a few weekly applications to kill the pests. The bonus is there is no egg withdrawal period. It would be helpful to know where you live for the best advice as many products aren't available everywhere. Good luck...

 

[Ruth and mermaid]

@cmom thanks so much for the response. I live on a tiny island near to Madegascar and there is not much here in terms of chicken products!

I have given the girls natural remedies like herbs and garlic. We also relocated the run to another part of the garden and put in a new coup. The problem is much more under control as I can't see the mites anymore (was a time I could see the mites crawling around!) but one of the chickens is still not laying and her feathers quite thin.

Was thinking about using this dog product to put in the new coup as part of a more serious effect for prevention or to deal with any secret mites that might come out at night only... But wanted to check if anyone knew it it was SAFE to use!

Thanks again

 

[cmom]

Some mites come out at night to feed on the birds and most products won't kill mite eggs so repeated treatments are necessary. I have a headlamp I wear so I have my hands free to check the birds at night after they roost to look for any mites. If you can get anything with permethrin in it, premethrin works. I had a severe infestation last year and used several things and that is what I used and eventually got rid of them with and there is no egg withdrawal period. I used the permethrin dust in the nest boxes and thoroughly sprayed the coops, every crack and crevice, everywhere. Can you order online? Good luck again...

 

[cmom]

Many livestock sprays have permethrin in it. Often you can get the concentrate to mix with water or pre-mixed in a sprayer. Here are a couple of examples of the pre-mixed sprays.

 

[Ruth and mermaid]

Thanks very much. I'll have a look for it.

 

[Folly's place]

It looks like your product is diatomacious earth and neem oil? Maybe better than nothing, if permethrin is unavailable. It's bad to inhale, so wearing a face mask will be safest, and strong neem oil products might not be safe either for your birds.
Basically, we have no idea what's available where you live, sorry. If there's a veterinary school available, try asking there. Any commercial poultry facilities to contact?
Mary

 

[Ruth and mermaid]

It looks like your product is diatomacious earth and neem oil? Maybe better than nothing, if permethrin is unavailable. It's bad to inhale, so wearing a face mask will be safest, and strong neem oil products might not be safe either for your birds.
Basically, we have no idea what's available where you live, sorry. If there's a veterinary school available, try asking there. Any commercial poultry facilities to contact?
Mary

Thanks Mary. What are the downsides to Neem please? Respiratory?

 

[cmom]

DE is bad for the respiratory. I don't know about neem oil. I've never used it. What I know about it is, it supposedly messes with the pests brain and insects "forget" to eat after they've been in contact with even traces of neem oil and starve to death. It can take days or weeks to work. I'll stay with the permethrin. I know it works. Again, good luck...

 

[Folly's place]

Any strongly scented oil can be a problem for chickens' respiratory systems. I don't know about the strength needed to kill the mites compared to amounts too much for the birds.
Mary