Freaking out - Broody hen on eggs two weeks...mites, I think?

[Spaeth-chicks]

Ok, I'm freaking out right now...Lady Bird (my queen girl) first time broody (both for her and for me as a chicken keeper). She's been sitting on eggs for two weeks. I noticed she's taking her break right now so I ran out to see her, and check on her eggs etc... I said my hello to her, and went in to take a peak at her eggs. I check to pull out any new eggs that may have been laid by the other girls in her absence. I pulled one egg out, and as I was carrying it back to the house, I saw what looked like dirt on it, so I tried to wipe it off, only to find little teeny tiny brown dirt looking specs that were actually walking around all over it and my hands!!!!! WTF is that? Is it mites? What do I do??? I've never had anything like this happen before, and I'm freaking out about it, and about her and her developing eggs, etc...

 

[Lady of McCamley]

It's okay. It sounds like mites. Many broodies have mite build up because they aren't dust bathing as often.

I recommend dusting Lady Bird with permethrin poultry dust. You can shake some into the nest (but not on the eggs) as well.

It won't hurt the eggs in any way. However, the little chicks would soon gain mites, so dusting Lady Bird will also dust the babes when they come.

Repeat in 10 days which means babes running through Lady Bird will also be dusted.

LofMc

 

[Spaeth-chicks]

It's okay. It sounds like mites. Many broodies have mite build up because they aren't dust bathing as often.

I recommend dusting Lady Bird with permethrin poultry dust. You can shake some into the nest (but not on the eggs) as well.

It won't hurt the eggs in any way. However, the little chicks would soon gain mites, so dusting Lady Bird will also dust the babes when they come.

Repeat in 10 days which means babes running through Lady Bird will also be dusted.

LofMc

I just got back from the feed store then I saw your reply. I saw the Permethrin Poultry Dust there but in SOOO many places all over the bottle it said TOXIC, and I was afraid to get that one because of the babies, and I was worried it would be toxic to Lady Bird. I got this other product (see attached pic). It's a spray says it's non toxic, do you think this will work? I haven't used it yet, just got back from the feed store and saw your reply.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

I wouldn't use a spray as you don't want to put wet or sticky residue on the eggs. You'd have to take Lady Bird off the nest, spray her, let her dry, then put her back on the nest. None of that is a good idea.

Plus, to be honest, most of the "non-toxic" herbal stuff just doesn't work (I KNOW, I really tried to go that route).

Personally, the permethrin dust is NOT toxic to chicks, chickens, or even you. It's a derivative from chrysanthemums (Though I wouldn't breathe it...use a mask). You can get that here:
https://www.amazon.com/CHEMTECH-BC6...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

I'm not sure why that was on the bottle other than you are in California and they have some pretty freaky labels there. (Sorry, I am still sore at a freak out label California put on hemorrhoid cream that I'd been using for a number of months while pregnant...turns out it was a recent ordinance passed by legislature in CASE somebody had a reaction...I tracked it down calling headquarters and actually talking to people...so I don't freak out so much now about labels.)

Personally, get the permethrin dust. Do NOT use DE (diatomaceous earth) as THAT is toxic to bird (and human) lungs (called silicosis).

You don't have to rush in a panic. Get Lady Bird dusted within the week, redo in 10 days, all will be well.

LofMc

 

[TheOddOneOut]

I just got back from the feed store then I saw your reply. I saw the Permethrin Poultry Dust there but in SOOO many places all over the bottle it said TOXIC, and I was afraid to get that one because of the babies, and I was worried it would be toxic to Lady Bird. I got this other product (see attached pic). It's a spray says it's non toxic, do you think this will work? I haven't used it yet, just got back from the feed store and saw your reply.

Red flags. It's "cottonseed oil" and "clove oil". Most of the time, that natural crap doesn't work.
Get Permethrin dust.

 

[Ridgerunner]

A poultry science professor said that mites kill more broody hens than anything else. So they need to be treated. I'd use the permethrin. Yes it is toxic, toxic to mites. I share the Lady's feelings about many labels. California is the worst.

Also from that poultry science professor, don't worry about the dust harming the eggs or chicks when they hatch. You'll need to treat the bedding too. You don't have to just pour it on, a little bit will do it. Remove the eggs from the nest and dust the nest, l then put the eggs back. If you use a spray remove the eggs from the nest, spray the nest, then put the eggs back. As long as you don't overdo it that spray should dry pretty quickly.

 

[Hopeful homesteader]

A poultry science professor said that mites kill more broody hens than anything else. So they need to be treated. I'd use the permethrin. Yes it is toxic, toxic to mites. I share the Lady's feelings about many labels. California is the worst.

Also from that poultry science professor, don't worry about the dust harming the eggs or chicks when they hatch. You'll need to treat the bedding too. You don't have to just pour it on, a little bit will do it. Remove the eggs from the nest and dust the nest, l then put the eggs back. If you use a spray remove the eggs from the nest, spray the nest, then put the eggs back. As long as you don't overdo it that spray should dry pretty quickly.

Just last week we bought a box of nails to build a fence and it's got the California label that it causes cancer, as soon as they labeled potatoes as carcinogenic I've ignored all their warning labels, what is going on in that state that everything is toxic there...

 

[TheOddOneOut]

Just last week we bought a box of nails to build a fence and it's got the California label that it causes cancer, as soon as they labeled potatoes as carcinogenic I've ignored all their warning labels, what is going on in that state that everything is toxic there...

How is that relevant…?
And it’s actually true. They do real studies. Doesn’t mean you’re likely to get cancer but the chemicals are carcinogenic.

 

[Spaeth-chicks]

I wouldn't use a spray as you don't want to put wet or sticky residue on the eggs. You'd have to take Lady Bird off the nest, spray her, let her dry, then put her back on the nest. None of that is a good idea.

Plus, to be honest, most of the "non-toxic" herbal stuff just doesn't work (I KNOW, I really tried to go that route).

Personally, the permethrin dust is NOT toxic to chicks, chickens, or even you. It's a derivative from chrysanthemums (Though I wouldn't breathe it...use a mask). You can get that here:
https://www.amazon.com/CHEMTECH-BC698321-Prozap-Garden-Poultry/dp/B001BM4JLM/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1X60IQAHC26XC&keywords=poultry+dust&qid=1653084179&sprefix=poultry+dust,aps,263&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyTkRDSjhDMk84OVIyJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDY4MzkyUEQ1VExRUUdYUllXJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTEwMTA3NTkzUjgxR0UyTk4wT1dJJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

I'm not sure why that was on the bottle other than you are in California and they have some pretty freaky labels there. (Sorry, I am still sore at a freak out label California put on hemorrhoid cream that I'd been using for a number of months while pregnant...turns out it was a recent ordinance passed by legislature in CASE somebody had a reaction...I tracked it down calling headquarters and actually talking to people...so I don't freak out so much now about labels.)

Personally, get the permethrin dust. Do NOT use DE (diatomaceous earth) as THAT is toxic to bird (and human) lungs (called silicosis).

You don't have to rush in a panic. Get Lady Bird dusted within the week, redo in 10 days, all will be well.

LofMc

Thank you!!! You made me feel so much better. I took the natural spray back to the feed store and bought the permethrin powder. I just dusted all the birds. I figured I need to check and dust them all not just Lady BIrd and Ginger, so I did. I thought Stormy my rooster would be the hardest to dust, but he actually turned out to be my easiest bird. Lady Bird who loves cuddles and human attention was my hardest to dust. She was so MAD. She got out of my arms screaming multiple times and I had to catch her. I think because she's broody, she wasn't having it! While she was off the nest, I dusted that as well. I just carefully moved the eggs out of it while I dusted, and then placed them back in. She's back on the eggs as if it never happened (success!). I pulled Ginger out of her box, dusted her. She was surprisingly easy to dust, and she took that time to take a break and eat, drink and she's back in her nest now too. I'm really hoping this works. When I redo in 10 days, she'll have her babies by then...

Thanks again!