How do I deep clean my coop?

[black_cat]

Did you determine what kind of mites?

At least scaly leg mites, which I know because of the birds' legs. I have been treating every night that it's warm enough with vaseline on the legs and epsom salt baths every few weeks. Last night when doing this treatment, I spotted mites crawling around on the roost, of unknown identity. They could be scaly leg mites for all I know.

Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

Thanks!

I'd spray the coop thoroughly with permethrin, rather than any cleaning liquid.


Ask them to move it.

 

[black_cat]

P.S. I have been blessed to have never had a mite issue so I've never had to "deep clean". I just fork out all the bedding and start the process of building it up again every 6-12 weeks or so.

I was just reading your article on deep bedding!

 

[aart]

They could be scaly leg mites for all I know.

Not likely.
If seen crawling on roost at night, probably roost mites, wipe with a white paper towel to look for red smears.
Clean out all bedding, spray all cracks and crevices thoroughly with permethrin.
Treat birds too.
Repeat every 7-10 days at least 2 or maybe 3 times.

 

[black_cat]

Not likely.
If seen crawling on roost at night, probably roost mites, wipe with a white paper towel to look for red smears.
Clean out all bedding, spray all cracks and crevices thoroughly with permethrin.
Treat birds too.
Repeat every 7-10 days at least 2 or maybe 3 times.

While continuing treatment for SLM, I'm assuming?
Do you have to dilute the permethrin? How much?

 

[black_cat]

Not likely.
If seen crawling on roost at night, probably roost mites, wipe with a white paper towel to look for red smears.

They're not red. Is it possible that they could be lice, or no?

Clean out all bedding, spray all cracks and crevices thoroughly with permethrin.
Treat birds too.
Repeat every 7-10 days at least 2 or maybe 3 times.

When you repeat, do you replace the bedding again, or just spray?

 

[aart]

While continuing treatment for SLM, I'm assuming?

The thing with SLM is you can't see them and depending on how long they had them it can take weeks, to never, that the scales straighten out.

Is it possible that they could be lice, or no?

You need to ID what you're seeing, can be hard to do.
Try to get one, or more, on a piece of clear tape, so you can get a good look at it.
The bugs you are seeing may not even be poultry pests.

 

[black_cat]

The thing with SLM is you can't see them and depending on how long they had them it can take weeks, to never, that the scales straighten out.

It was helping for a while, and they were improving (I could see new scales coming in and being straighter) and then it was REALLY COLD for like two weeks, and I didn't want to put vaseline on them for fear of freezing their legs at night, now they're worse again.

You need to ID what you're seeing, can be hard to do.
Try to get one, or more, on a piece of clear tape, so you can get a good look at it.
The bugs you are seeing may not even be poultry pests.

 

[aart]

It was helping for a while, and they were improving (I could see new scales coming in and being straighter) and then it was REALLY COLD for like two weeks, and I didn't want to put vaseline on them for fear of freezing their legs at night, now they're worse again.

How long did you treat with the vaseline?

 

[black_cat]

How long did you treat with the vaseline?

I'm not entirely sure- I think about two weeks, as well as doing epsom salt baths for the legs.

 

[black_cat]

I'm not entirely sure- I think about two weeks, as well as doing epsom salt baths for the legs.

I've resumed vaseline treatment. I can probably go to TSC tomorrow or Saturday (too far to go today) to get enough shavings to replace everything.