[HELP] Hen with new chicks have a lot of mites (white ones) on its body

[sus9441]

I am in quite a dilemma.....I have a hen who really wants/likes to be with her 2-day-old chicks. However, I found out that she has a lot of mites/lice on her body....

is seperation the best way? or is there a natural and quick way of treating mites/lice?

 

[GitaBooks]

Offer her a dust pan with wood ash, dust, sand, soil or a mix of these for her to bathe in. I did this when I was in the same situation as you and over a few days the number of mites dropped until the infestation was gone.

 

[TalkALittle]

Is there any worry in a case like this that the chicks are in danger? Will the mites infest them also? I imagine it wouldn't take many mites/lice to make a tiny chick anemic enough to kill it. Having never dealt with lice, I would think something that killed them immediately would be more desirable than something that just reduced numbers over a couple of days. Hopefully others chime in.

 

[GitaBooks]

Yes, mites can be a danger. However, the mother will show them how to dust bathe.