Elector PSP - Mites/Lice - Newbie

[PrettyGirlsCareTaker]

Hello all!

I have been dealing with what looks to be a mite infestation for over a month. I have been cleaning the coop out and spraying it down with vinegar. Putting down DE all over the coop, run, roosts and dusting the chickens. No avail and they look worse today. One of the chickens had a bunch of her feathers on the ground this morning. They are all molting and two of the 8 are broody so it seems like they have a lot of unpleasantries going on! I also have two sand baths mixed with DE for them. I am currently feeding them boiler feed since they are going through a really hard molt (most of them are missing feathers on their back, underside and around the neck the feather shaft coming in.

The reason why I think it is mites is because one of the birds had the vent area covered in what look like dirt which I think is mite eggs?

I am going to use elector PSP for the first time tomorrow and my question is do you spray the whole chicken or just the vent area? Either way, how drenched do you get her? For the coop, do you spray the coop down after cleaning and rinse it? Or do you let it dry? Should I spray the dirt run as well?

When can you tell mites are gone and how long does it take for the feathers damaged to come back?

Any extra advice would be great! I feel bad for them!

 

[azygous]

I'm relieved to hear you found the Elector and will be using it. I've used it over the years with terrific success. Your other DE and vinegar treatments do nothing at all.

Yes, you will be treating the chickens directly in addition to spraying down the premises. Elector is a powerful biological control and leaves a residual that will protect the chicken for a while after treatment. I've had good luck spraying the skin on a chicken around the vent and under the wings and around the neck rather than a complete dip, but you can do that, too.

Feathers damaged by the mites won't grow back until fall molt. That can take any where from a few weeks to a few months depending on the individual chicken.

 

[cmom]

The loss of feathers on your birds can be because of the mite infestation. I had a severe infestation last year and thought the loss of feathers was due to molting but upon closer inspection discovered the mites. I would treat the coop weekly for awhile because it does not kill the mite eggs with the Elector PSP. Permethrin is much less expensive and works. There is no egg withdrawal. If you have a TSC you can get the dust, premixed spray and the concentrate. I use the dust on the birds and THOROUGHLY spray inside of your coop, every crack and crevice, on and under the roosts, nest boxes, ceiling, walls, anywhere the mites can hide. I buy the concentrate but I have a lot of coops so I mix it in a gallon sprayer and the wand helps me to reach the hard to reach areas. For smaller places the premixed spray is good. It will take awhile for the birds feathers to come back in, but they will be beautiful again. Good luck...

 

[cmom]

Also If you want a higher protein feed, Game Bird feed is also usually higher in protein. I feed this to my birds when they are molting.

 

[azygous]

Elector PSP is effective if used correctly. Failure, according to studies, is due mainly to incorrect mixing and application. https://parasitipedia.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3099&Itemid=3485

Permethrin is a perfectly natural and effective treatment for lice and mites, and it also must be used correctly in order to be effective.

 

[Kiki]

Can you take a few pictures of the dirty butt area you mention.
I have a feeling you might be dealing with lice.


DE nor vinegar will do anything to rid either lice or mites.

 

[PrettyGirlsCareTaker]

I will try to get some pictures today but it looked like this but less bug looking and more like crusted on mud.

I have been doing deep litter method and putting DE in the bedding so I guess that is why mites came on so strong. I thought DE was killing them, atleast that is what google says

I've read elector PSP works with lice.. IF I have lice, what are my options? @Texax Kiki



Thank you for all of your help in here!

 

[Kiki]

I will try to get some pictures today but it looked like this but less bug looking and more like crusted on mud.

I have been doing deep litter method and putting DE in the bedding so I guess that is why mites came on so strong. I thought DE was killing them, atleast that is what google says

I've read elector PSP works with lice.. IF I have lice, what are my options? @Texax Kiki



Thank you for all of your help in here!

Google lies and so do random bloggers.
DE is worthless.

Have you already bought the Elector?
I don't know much about the Elector because I am a fan of permethrin.

 

[Kiki]

I am sure the Elector kills lice too.

 

[PrettyGirlsCareTaker]

I am going to give elector a try as I already bought it but I'll try permethrin next! I'll clean the coop every 7 days until I rid the bugs but how often do you change your bedding regularly? I am guessing the deep liter method doesn't actually work because there is nothing in the bedding now that I know DE doesn't work