Eggs with lots of tiny moving specks on them?!?!?

[regina1994]

I've raised laying hens for 3 y and this is my first time with a rooster and broody hen. A hen has been sitting diegently for 2 1/2 weeks and wouldn't let me come near her nest...today I went in and she wasn't sitting on them so I peeked in and I thought the eggs were reall dirty til I looked closer and it was TONS of pepper size and colored moving critters. What is going on?? I just changed litter and dusted 2 weeks ago...do I need to do more??

 

[Matt A NC]

Mites, sounds like a very heavy infestation. Sevin dust(5% kind) usually works, but if not try a permethrin poultry dust.

Matt

 

[DaveD]

Matt, How long after doing this would you need to toss the eggs before being able to eat them, or is that not a problem?

-David

 

[Mahonri]

If the eggs were being incubated by the hen, I'd toss them.

I've eaten lots of eggs after using Sevin dust. I'm still alive.

 

[Dixiedoodle]

I have read that lots of people place a small amount of 'Sevin" in their nest boxes, mix it up with the shavings or straw. Each time the hen goes in and sits down she gets a little dust on her.. I also use it on my roosting boards once a month. DE every week..

 

[Matt A NC]

If these eggs are about to hatch, dust the hen really well, dust the nest, and put the eggs back in and the hen back on. If the chicks hatch while the infestation is still there, the mites will suck them dry of blood.

I have never tossed eggs after dusting. This is not something they really injest and is not a liquid they obsorb.

Matt

 

[TriciaHowe]

Quote:

 

[regina1994]

They won"t latch onto me and infest my home will they??????

 

[Matt A NC]

Any that get on you will die within a few hours. They are species specific.

Matt

 

[onthespot]

I am allergic to them like crazy, which is good, because I know if a bird has a mite if I walk two feet away from it it seems like I get to itching like crazy! if I feel a mite, everybody in that pen gets immediately dusted. I also spray under their wingpits and the underside of their wings with pyrrahana insecticede spray, just for overkill.