Today I checked one of my chickens today and found mites; so I decided to check the rest and I have a full blown infestation. What can I do for them as I don't have much money. I read about wood ash and was hoping that yall can give me some info as to what I can do.....
Sevin 5% gat\rden dust is not very expensive and will solve the problem. Dust everything, change the litter, and repeat the process in 10 days to kill hatched eggs. It may take more than two aplications as it's pretty hard to get them all at once. http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf
Sevin dust is commonly used, but if you don't want to use it, try permethrin (Poultry and Garden Dust) and Permetrin II (permethrin.) Thoses are the 2 most recommended by most university poultry sites. Wood ash is good to add to dust baths for prevention, but you need something stronger for an outbreak. Mites can kill by causing severe anemia. Here are some to read to make sure of the difference in lice and mites, and how often to treat: http://anrcatalog.ucdavis.edu/pdf/8162.pdf http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html http://www.thepoultrysite.com/articles/2947/northern-fowl-mite-management
The wood ash helps as a preventative for mites/lice when they bathe in It regularly. To treat the parasites it does nothing. Sevin dust powder can be found in a hardware store. Can be in a 3 pack under 10 dollars. A container can do a bunch of birds besides the run and coop. The Sevin dust is one of the cheapest ways to handle mites and lice I have found. Diatomaceous Earth though natural does not work. All bedding, nesting material will have to be removed and disposed. Sprinkle in coop, run, all cracks, mix in areas they bathe. To do hens sprinkle on them while wearing gloves and a mask. Be careful not to make a cloud of the powder, working it down to the skin. You can also use an empty feed bag with the powder inside. Place bird in holding bag around the neck and work the powder in by holding her and slightly shaking and work the powder in through the outside of the bag. (Shake & bake) That can be stressful and bird will freak causing a big cloud of the dust. To apply around the head I use an old paint brush to dust the head, wattles and comb be careful to not have the hen breath the dust. After treatment of all birds, make sure you wash all your clothing and shower to remove any that may have gotten on you. You need to repeat in 7-10 days to get any that may have hatched. You will have enough to treat again in 6 months or when reinfested. Getting on a parasite internal and external control schedule is a good plan. Good luck hope that was helpful.
Go to your local tractor supply or co-op and purchase a garden/poultry dust containing permethrin. This is one i use http://www.amazon.com/Ytex-Gardstar...406826768&sr=8-2&keywords=garden/poultry+dust although there are several brands. They are usually marketed as garden/poultry/swine pesticides and have many uses and applications. They might be located in either the pesticides in the garden section or the pesticides in the poultry or animal care section. I dust my coop and bedding with it every time i change beddings. It works great for me. I never sprinkle any on their nesting boxes and i don't put it directly on my birds. Just dusting the bedding works for me. If and when you apply it i recommend using a mask or respirator to avoid breathing it in. It's a very fine dust and i doubt breathing it would be healthy.