help! mites!

[casportpony]

This is why you should use something that is labeled for poultry because as labeled for the garden might not be the correct dilution for poultry.

Looks like your hen has clumps of lice eggs on her feathers, and it looks like she might also have Northern Fowl Mites.

 

[casportpony]

Are you still in Davidson? If so, don't you have a Tractor Supply 10 miles away? Please go there and get some permethrin spray. Mites and lice can kill birds.

 

[lilmagill]

Are you still in Davidson? If so, don't you have a Tractor Supply 10 miles away? Please go there and get some permethrin spray. Mites and lice can kill birds.

yes, but my tractor supply only had a pump spray bottle. my coop is too large for that to have been feasible or effective. i have bathed and de-loused gretel, inspected the other girls, sprayed the coop with liquid seven, and ordered permethrin concentrate. i will treat all when it gets delivered. thank you

 

[Trishkabob]

we just found that a nest of phoebes seems to have given us a case of mites. They nest every year under the same eave and we found them, first on what was right under the nest and then began to find them elsewhere. Funny how you can't see them-until you do and then see them everywhere! The same day (yesterday) we found them in the henhouse which is on the other side of the house and road (they were on the eggs). It has been raining here all month-could that have an effect? We've never seen them before (that we know of). Our girls (we have 6) seem fine; healthy combs and appetites and glossy feathers, no undue grooming (the usual). My husband is panicking that we are looking at a house infestation (OUR house!) since we had some on our clothes.
We will clean the henhouse/nest boxes and 6 poopy butts (which I looked at and wasn't able to see much but will look again) which I've been meaning to do anyway (when it isn't raining. if that ever happens).
I'd appreciate any experiences you have and/or advice especially to talk my husband off the edge. I see sevrin suggested but worry about how poisonous that is (we have a dog and bees as well) and have read that permethrin doesn't work.
I dusted the nest boxes with food grade DE...

 

[lilmagill]

it has been raining here a lot as well and I have read that that can increase mite population. I just got some permethrin so I hope it works. I will spray it on any girls that are affected tomorrow.

 

[plexiglass]

thank you. i just ordered some. now i need to know what i can do in the meantime. can i spray this in the coop?View attachment 1018503
thank you

You need to look for something called poultry powder. I found mine at tractor supply.

 

[Trishkabob]

I've read that elemental sulphur dust works and is not at all toxic which is important to us.
We did do something that worked for now, though not sure I'd recommend it: my husband used a heat gun, on low, all over the area under the phoebe nest, the chicken nest boxes, roost, etc. Quite satisfying if not practical for everyone, time consuming, ....and, oh yeah, potantially dangerous. Great to see them die off though.

 

[firestomp]

I've read that elemental sulphur dust works and is not at all toxic which is important to us.
We did do something that worked for now, though not sure I'd recommend it: my husband used a heat gun, on low, all over the area under the phoebe nest, the chicken nest boxes, roost, etc. Quite satisfying if not practical for everyone, time consuming, ....and, oh yeah, potantially dangerous. Great to see them die off though.

I have the same only it's mites. I got the Elector psp it is costly, but said to work wonders and you use 2 (1.8) tsp. per gallon,said the vet at the maker of it Eli lilly. the bottle gives a 3 ounce to 10 gal. and I iwanted gallon portions so I called. It is $142 at valley vet for an 8 oz. bottle, but will last me a lifetime. No egg or meat withdrawal needed it says. DE has not helped, 7 was the go to years ago, but not much help. A natural product called Poultry protector is at TSC and can be got in concentrate on line. I am done spending on things that aren't working, so the Elector is going on Wednesday, chickens, in clean coop, outside walls and a 3 foot barrier around coop. And yes, that is the cheapest I could find it for. OUTCH

 

[Trishkabob]

our issue is mites as well. I read about Elector psp and then saw the price which is what made me look further. But if it turned out that was the only thing that really worked, it would be worth it. Given how little one needs, I wish it came in smaller amounts (but why so $$?)
Report back when you've used it? thanks!

 

[firestomp]

our issue is mites as well. I read about Elector psp and then saw the price which is what made me look further. But if it turned out that was the only thing that really worked, it would be worth it. Given how little one needs, I wish it came in smaller amounts (but why so $$?)
Report back when you've used it? thanks!

I will, I won't be able to raise these chickens when I retire, I can buy eggs cheaper than I can feed them, let alone all the other money for stuff and bugs for the last 2 years. Many wild birds and 2 years of wet so far. I'm about done with it to be honest.