Haven't SEEN mites, but I'm pretty sure.....

[shandiane78]

...pretty sure we have 'em. I noticed the feathers one on of my hens looked all disheveled, so I checked around her vent area for parasites. I didn't see any bugs, but I did see some blackish clumps of stuff at the base of her feathers. I tried to pull some off, and actually pulled the feather out instead. (Oops.) Am I right to suspect mites?

I sprinkled some Sevin around the coop (mixed feelings about that), and also made a dust bath in a shallow box with a mixture of dry dirt, kitty litter, DE and Sevin powder. I put each hen in there and dusted thoroughly.

At night I came into the coops to look for mites, and still couldn't find any on the roosts or on the chickens. Maybe it wasn't late enough? Do you have to wait until very late at night?

Do you think this treatment will take care of it? When should I re-dust the hens? Should I try to remove the blackish clumps? If so, how?

Thanks in advance!

 

[purpletree23]

The blackish clumps near the vent is a sign that you do have mites. Dusting the chickens is good. Dust the coop also. Pull the bedding away from the walls in the coop and dust the edge well. Especially the corners and any cracks. Pull the nesting material out of the laying boxes and dust well also. Replace with new bedding.

Dust the chickens again in 7 days to make sure none have hatched and you have everything under control. The chickens are probable a little under the weather because of the mites. Give them chopped greens and poultry vitamins in their water. Extra protein like scrambled eggs is also good.

If you haven't wormed them in the past 6 months worm them in about 2 weeks. Prevention is the best route for a healthy flock.

 

[shandiane78]

Thanks purpletree. I didn't dust the nesting boxes because I was afraid of the Sevin coming in contact with eggs. Will it contaminate the eggs?

 

[kathyinmo]

Here are 3 threads that may interest you; very informational ....

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=208399

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=240106

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=226143

 

[shandiane78]

GREAT links! I read them all thoroughly. Thank you!

 

[purpletree23]

If you just dust the bottoms and the corners of the boxes and then put on new bedding 2-3 inches you should be fine. Over time the dust will 'sift' into the cracks and sort of disappear which is good because that's where the critters live.