Help! Mites in feed

[redhd077]

Oh help! I bought 100 lbs of layer pellets and dumped then into my feed can...a metal can with a lid. ( I now know it needs to seal) a few days later I went to get some feed and there are mites everywhere in the can! I spent hours cleaning, washing and dusting my coop and my chickens. My question is is there a way to save the feed? That's a lot to just throw out.

 

[Nupe]

I'm willing to bet the mites came with the feed. I'd take it back.

 

[redhd077]

Can I mix DE in with the food and kill the mites?

 

[Alyssa23]

What's DE

 

[Ashbow]

I wouldn't bother putting D.E. in it. If your coop is clean, I'd try calling the store you bought the feed from and complaining. Ask for a refund.

 

[redhd077]

I was gonna take it back but I through out the bags! I bought another bag and it was ok. Hubby thinks we should just leave the can outside until it freezes here and that will kill them. That's still a few months away and I'm worried about the chickens getting on the can and carrying them back to the coop! I wish there was a way to kill them in the food and the food still be safe to feed. I might still call and complain and see what they say.

 

[redhd077]

DE is diatomaceous earth it's a powder used to treat lice and mites.