Fleas? Mites? Help!

[janz70]

they just need to check the ingredients, there are many makes and they sell it in all supermarkets / diy stores justlook for 0.5%w/w permethrin on the rear of the bottle

personally I wait until autumn when everyone is selling it off and buy enough for the year - sometimes I have had it for 25p a bottle

 

[casportpony]

@MissNutmeg , did you go get the permethrin?

 

[MissNutmeg]

@MissNutmeg , did you go get the permethrin?

I just brought the spray and the "dust". I will start the treatment on him soon and will spray the coop out after this rain blows over.

 

[BlueJayFarm]

If he were mine and was that lethargic and crawling with mites, I would administer Ivermectin immediately, or whatever treatment you got- I would do it today. A mite infestation can kill a bird. Good luck with him! Poor guy.

 

[MissNutmeg]

So should I just sprinkle him with the DE dust if so how much? How should I hold him without getting it on myself?

 

[BlueJayFarm]

It's very important to get it under his feathers and on his skin. Mites congregate at the vent. Hold him like a football facing backwards, tilt his rear up, and liberally shake the dust into his feathers all around his vent. Also put some in the feathers (not just on top) on the back of his neck, under his wings, around his tail, etc. Might want to wear a dust mask. It's nice to have a helper but let's face it... we are usually on our own, right?!

Then do this to all your birds, once a week for four weeks. Remove all bedding, add to nest boxes and coop. Add fresh bedding.

*I'm editing this to note that I thought you had permethrin powder, not DE. I have no advice for you re: DE. I see now that you do actually have the permethrin powder, which is good.

 

[MissNutmeg]

It's very important to get it under his feathers and on his skin. Mites congregate at the vent. Hold him like a football facing backwards, tilt his rear up, and liberally shake the dust into his feathers all around his vent. Also put some in the feathers (not just on top) on the back of his neck, under his wings, around his tail, etc. Might want to wear a dust mask. It's nice to have a helper but let's face it... we are usually on our own, right?!

Then do this to all your birds, once a week for four weeks. Remove all bedding, add to nest boxes and coop. Add fresh bedding.

Okay thanks for getting back to me.

I just dusted him, on his vent, under his wings/tail/neck feathers, and saddle. Should I dust him again later?

 

[CCUK]

You will probably end up covered in it! I normally do. It stopped me itching aswell! Don't get it in his face. You must do all your chickens. Clean the coop thoroughly all the bedding must be removed. I don't know how you dispose of old bedding, I have to bag it and take it to our farm muck heap, some people recommend burning it if it is infested. I know this isn't always an option but keep it well away from your coop and run and any fresh bedding you have. If you have the spray also, make sure you spray into all the cracks and nooks and crannies perches and nest boxes be quite liberal with it. Keep the hens out of the area you are treating but leave a window or door open for ventilation. Let it dry then sprinkle the powder all around the nest boxes perches cracks and holes. The lice and mites can get in between the woodwork even if it is screwed together. Leave it to aerate
Then you can replace bedding. You will probably need to repeat this in 3-4 days to kill the eggs from the life cycle of the mites. And maybe again in another 3-4 days! I had a infestation last year and it was a constant battle. All you can do is keep checking them and apply powder regularly. If your happy to use ivermectin it is recommended. That should keep them free for longer.

 

[MissNutmeg]

You will probably end up covered in it! I normally do. It stopped me itching aswell! Don't get it in his face. You must do all your chickens. Clean the coop thoroughly all the bedding must be removed. I don't know how you dispose of old bedding, I have to bag it and take it to our farm muck heap, some people recommend burning it if it is infested. I know this isn't always an option but keep it well away from your coop and run and any fresh bedding you have. If you have the spray also, make sure you spray into all the cracks and nooks and crannies perches and nest boxes be quite liberal with it. Keep the hens out of the area you are treating but leave a window or door open for ventilation. Let it dry then sprinkle the powder all around the nest boxes perches cracks and holes. The lice and mites can get in between the woodwork even if it is screwed together. Leave it to aerate
Then you can replace bedding. You will probably need to repeat this in 3-4 days to kill the eggs from the life cycle of the mites. And maybe again in another 3-4 days! I had a infestation last year and it was a constant battle. All you can do is keep checking them and apply powder regularly. If your happy to use ivermectin it is recommended. That should keep them free for longer.

I have a designated place on our property just for old chicken bedding, and it is quite a distance from the coop. Right now (eastern-coast, USA) its pretty cold, and it appears to be warmer tomorrow so I'll probably clean the coop out then.

Now another question, is DE safe if my chickens end up ingesting the powder? (from like preening, etc.)

 

[sourland]

Be very careful not to inhale the DE. Wear a mask when applying.