I knowticed my girls loosing feathers. I thought maby they were moulting. Well i was checking them out adn i found lil orange bugs, are they lice or mites or fleas?? What do I do. I know I can dust them, im off to the local feed store soon, any ideas on what they are? Are they moulting or is it the bugs? and egg production is slim to NONE!
Little red ones are mites I believe! You have to clean and dust the whole coop as well- as they also live in the environment. Hopefully an expert will chime in!
Well, I powder mine up with Seven dust, and then repeat in 10 days, to kill any eggs that hatch. Also, you will need to totally clean out your coop by removing ALL of the bedding, and then really sprinkle down your coop as well. Others will come around and give you more ideas. I believe there is probably a spray you could spray down your coop with as well, but I personally use the Seven Dust. Parasites can do a number on your chickens.....It can definitely effect egg production. So sorry you're going through this, but don't feel bad because everybody does at one time or another. Sharon
there is a pyrethrin spray at TSC that you can spray directly on animals and animal areas. It's fairly inexpensive. I am considering buying it if i need it. Also, poultry dust would work too. depends on which route you want to go. getting rid of the bedding must be a pn in the hiney the cost adds up, but best to be safe than sorry. you can check online stores for products, too. i have a catalog i look at every now and then to mentally prepare myself. good luck. It probably explains the drop in eggs, they've been bothered by the bugs. Make sure to scrub the nest boxes and perches!
Thank you all for you help. I think i will spray the coop or dust it and all my hens. I just cleaned the coop and didnt replace any bedding yet so good timing I guess.
