How can I completely get rid of mites?

[KlinoClucks]

Hey there chicken lovers!
I have had a pretty major issue with red and leg mites over the last few years, but no matter how much or with what I treat them with, I just can't shake them from the coop! I've also moved several times since I started treating them. Any tips would be highly appreciated!!
(Ps. i have 46 chickens)

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

You can never completely eradicate them as wild birds will bring them into your area. It's generally about control by providing dust bath areas and treating birds and the coop as necessary.

I personally prefer a pyrethrin or permethrin based poultry dust. You can dust the coop as needed. Make sure to dust all wood cracks like where roosts meet the walls, and you can dust nestboxes under the bedding if necessary.

Healthy birds with enough space should be able to keep external parasites under control. Unwell birds, some broody hens, or those birds too closely confined without access to a dry dusting spot will have problems.

 

[cmom]

I use permethrin spray and dust. It doesn't kill the pests eggs so repeat thorough spraying is necessary, ceiling ,walls, floor, inside and outside of the nest boxes, on and under the roosts, any cracks and crevices where the mites can hide, everywhere. This is what has worked best for me and I have tried a lot of different things. I initially used the premixed in the bottle but now use the concentrate and mix it with water in a gallon sprayer. I had some birds that looked terrible and at first I thought they were molting but upon further inspection found they were covered with mites. Luckily they were in only one coop but I sprayed all of the coops. I dusted the birds with permethrin dust. Now the birds are beautiful again.

 

[Folly's place]

Permethrin spray works well, but those miserable wild wrens will continue to reinfest your coop and flock!
Only keeping your birds indoors will protect them, and that's not my plan either. So, i'm dealing with reinfestations here too.
Mary

 

[cmom]

Initially I sprayed the permethrin spray in my coop weekly. I then cut down to every couple of weeks. I didn't spray during the winter months but started again this spring weekly and now every couple of weeks. So far so good.

 

[ValerieJ]

I put food grade diatomaceous earth in my chicken coops every week, I just sprinkle it all over the fresh straw I put in. I do clean my coops every week, taking all the old straw out and putting new in. It rains a lot here, so I put up an outdoor shelter so they have dry dirt to bathe in during the rainy seasons, which are fall, winter and spring. LOL I have never seen a mite on any of my girls. I don't actually pick each one up and check regularly, I just occasionally will pick one up who seems to be scratching a lot.

 

[cmom]

In years past I have used DE and it won't kill the mites and such. You are just lucky. Probably because you clean your coop weekly is why. I never had mites until last year and only in one coop but I sprayed all of the coops as a precaution. Some kinds of mites only come out at night and feed on the birds so you never will see them. Good luck...

 

[ValerieJ]

In years past I have used DE and it won't kill the mites and such. You are just lucky. Probably because you clean your coop weekly is why. I never had mites until last year and only in one coop but I sprayed all of the coops as a precaution. Some kinds of mites only come out at night and feed on the birds so you never will see them. Good luck...

If mites only come out at night, how will I know if my hens have them?

 

[Folly's place]

It's best to go out at night with a small flashlight, and look at least a few birds while they are roosting. Look around the vent area, the neck, back, and under wings.
Mary

 

[ValerieJ]

Thanks, Mary. I'll do that. But, yikes. I'll have to be brave. My coops are a long way from the house and we have at least one cougar, one bear and coyotes around here. One person said they lose their feathers when they have mites. Is this always the case? Maybe I should just get that spray and spray my coops every week. We do have plenty of wild birds here.