Fleas? Mites? Help!

[casportpony]

Good point. I didn't consider cold since I don't know where Naboo is.

I'm assuming it's someplace colder than California, lol. Probably East Coast.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

DE may kill mites, lice and other parasites on the floor or in bedding but won't eradicate all the creepy crawlies on a bird. It also won't kill eggs so multiple treatments are still necessary.
I am a big proponent of raising animals organically but I'm not a big fan of suffering/dead organic animals.
All things in moderation.

 

[janz70]

Im afraid you are incorrect DE does kill mites but as I said over a longer term - oh and permethrin doesnt kill the eggs either and will need to be reapplied in a few days

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Very true. No matter what treatment is used, retreatment is necessary.
Treatment that requires longer term can kill a bird with a bad infestation.
I refer once again to The Poultry Site information on mite management.
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/2947/northern-fowl-mite-management/

 

[janz70]

Very true. No matter what treatment is used, retreatment is necessary.
Treatment that requires longer term can kill a bird with a bad infestation.
I refer once again to The Poultry Site information on mite management.
http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/2947/northern-fowl-mite-management/

I was answering the op wanting a more natural product but to says DE just doesnt kil lmites is untrue

 

[janz70]

meanwhile back to the point in question - put rooster in a box and cover liberally with antpowder and leave him in it overnight

 

[ChickenCanoe]

As I said, DE does kill mites, under certain dry circumstances.
I don't want to get into an argument about this. What one does to manage their flocks is up to them. If one wants to remain all organic, I applaud that point of view and by all means, go for it.
When my birds are suffering, I want the problem to be resolved as soon as possible.

 

[CCUK]

yes it does, it errodes the exo skeleton, gets it the joints and grinds and slashes the mite to death - may not be as fast acting as an insecticide (permethrin ) so thats why I said use permethrin

I didn't realise ant powder had permethrin in. I had a hell of a job with red spider mites last year. No matter what I did I couldn't completely clear them. I used DE, mite spray ivermectin worked on my non layers. What is the best way to use ant powder and is it safe?

 

[ChickenCanoe]

meanwhile back to the point in question - put rooster in a box and cover liberally with antpowder and leave him in it overnight

Do you think ant powder is more benign than Permetherin?
These are the active ingredients of ant powder:
Deltamethrin [(s)-alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl-(1R,3R)-3-(2-2 dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethyl cyclopropanecarboxylate] (0.05%)

I think I'd rather use 5% Sevin dust. (carbaryl)

 

[casportpony]

This is what @JaeG said about DE and mites:

Having had an infestation of mites this past summer (I'm in the southern hemisphere) I can tell you DE does nothing. I found hundreds of mites crawling round in a thick bed of it in my nest boxes. And that was after using a special cleaner to clean out every inch of the coop.