HELP! Mama setting on eggs is literally being eatin by mites! What do I do?

[AshleyBickle]

So babies hatched Monday.. We have 6 2 day old babies.. Mom still has mites.. Not a ton but they are still on her.. I removed chicks and put them in a brooder. I have found a few on them.. What can I use on them to assure these vulnerable babies stay healthy. So far I've been cleaning out bedding daily and inspecting every baby. I've killed three mites so far. Would like to get this under control on them quickly. I know how to deal with it on my big birds but not these little ones.

 

[ShannonR]

Maybe a drop of ivomec pour on to the back of the neck on each chick? My thoughts here are, the mites will definitely kill your chicks.
It is possible the pesticides might kill them also, but very doubtful. I would be leery of any using dust for chicks though, as their developing systems are more prone to dust or particle damage.

Personally, I would go ahead and treat them.

 

[AshleyBickle]

Maybe a drop of ivomec pour on to the back of the neck on each chick? My thoughts here are, the mites will definitely kill your chicks.
It is possible the pesticides might kill them also, but very doubtful. I would be leery of any using dust for chicks though, as their developing systems are more prone to dust or particle damage.

Personally, I would go ahead and treat them.

Thanks for the response! I waited a few days and have actually been killing the mites by hand when I see one on a chick.. Not the best preventative measure I'm sure but I wanted to give them a few days to recover from hatching and be strong and active before I did anything. I did treat them tonight however.. I change there bedding every single day and am really hoping treating them doesn't hurt them or that this doesn't continue to be an ongoing issue. Fingers crossed!

 

[ShannonR]

Best of luck to you! I do think they will be fine, the fact you were cautious about treating them in the first place speaks volumes of your thoughtfulness and ability to handle this well.

 

[aart]

Thanks for the response! I waited a few days and have actually been killing the mites by hand when I see one on a chick.. Not the best preventative measure I'm sure but I wanted to give them a few days to recover from hatching and be strong and active before I did anything. I did treat them tonight however.. I change there bedding every single day and am really hoping treating them doesn't hurt them or that this doesn't continue to be an ongoing issue. Fingers crossed!

What did you treat the chicks with?

 

[AshleyBickle]

What did you treat the chicks with?

As much as I didn't want too I used 7 garden and poultry dust. I was concerned of harming them but knew if I did nothing the mites would kill them anyways. I just put a little dust on my finger and rubbed under wings and on belly of each chick. Everyone seemed fine and are still happy and healthy chicks. I'm still changing bedding every day but I haven't seen one mite since I treated them.

 

[casportpony]

Maybe a drop of ivomec pour on to the back of the neck on each chick? My thoughts here are, the mites will definitely kill your chicks.
It is possible the pesticides might kill them also, but very doubtful. I would be leery of any using dust for chicks though, as their developing systems are more prone to dust or particle damage.

Personally, I would go ahead and treat them.

One drop of ivomec on a newly hatched chick is way too much.

-Kathy

 

[pauleberly]

You could try submerging the chicken up to its neck in apple cider vinegar.