Help- my chickies have mites!

[StarLover21]

I just discovered today that most of my chickens are covered in mites!

They aren't red mites or poultry lice. They don't really form in clumps, and are rather big- easy to see. They are a rather reddish brown color and are long and ovalish with pointed ends. Does anybody know what these could be???

I dusted everybody with dinatamateous earth (DE), and put it in their food and bedding. Will this kill all of them? Is there anything else I need to do?

Please help

 

[Nsampsel]

Sounds more like bird lice. TSC carries generic Ivermectin (cattle pour on) that works for lice, mites & worms. It's in a red & yellow box in the livestock meds section & may be locked in the med case. Just ask for it. It's around $15 for a good si2ed bottle that should last a while. Use a syringe without a needle to apply .2 ml to banties & 1/2 grown chicks & .5 ml to large fowl. Spread it on back of neck & under both wings. Make sure you move feathers out of the way & apply directly to the skin as it is absorbed thru the skin.

 

[StarLover21]

Thanks so much, I looked it up and thats exactly what they are

I'll get the Ivermectin ASAP- in the meantime will the DE work at all, or is it not effective on bird lice?

 

[Nsampsel]

Effectiveness of DE is up for debate. It may work on a lighter case of for prevention but once totally infested it's not really of much use.

 

[froggiesheins]

Poultry dust / Sevin are the only dust-on things that will kill mites/lice. DE nope.

 

[Nsampsel]

I couldn't even get rid of mine with Sevin Dust. I had to go to the Ivermectin.

 

[froggiesheins]

I couldn't even get rid of mine with Sevin Dust. I had to go to the Ivermectin.

I probably should have added that it is only good for a quick fix till the Ivermec kicks in. I just use it in a pinch...you mean you peeps can't read my mind???

 

[OLCHOOK]

If you need stuff in a hurry for mites and lice, Tomato Dust works beautifully. The Pyrethrin compound present is the same in Tomato Dust as dedicated Poultry Dust.

To have both products effective, you need to dust chickens weekly, remove and replace bedding and dust the perches weekly. Do this until the mites/lice disappear.

With Ivermectin products (and those similar) there is a ten day egg withholding period (and I avoid those if I can help it)

Linz

 

[Nsampsel]

If you need stuff in a hurry for mites and lice, Tomato Dust works beautifully. The Pyrethrin compound present is the same in Tomato Dust as dedicated Poultry Dust.

To have both products effective, you need to dust chickens weekly, remove and replace bedding and dust the perches weekly. Do this until the mites/lice disappear.

With Ivermectin products (and those similar) there is a ten day egg withholding period (and I avoid those if I can help it)

Linz

Sometimes the Ivermectin is all that works tho. I forgot to check birds I brought home from a sale/swap & before I reali2ed everyone was covered in them & I had lost a couple from the infestation. If worms are involved, the Sevin or Tomato Dust won't touch them at all. I find it's better to hit everyone at once with only 1 dose necessary. Then again, I do about 100+ birds at a time, so I really don't like to do it any more than I have to. Catching all those birds is a PAIN!!!

 

[StarLover21]

Okay- I'll definitally get the Ivermectin today.

Luckily all my chickies are very freindly, so catching them shouldn't be a problem Poor babies- I knew they were looking skinnier than usual.