How do you treat for mites?

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I think my chickens have mites. In the past two days, I've noticed that they are losing feathers in odd places - both sides of the neck, front of the neck, and saddle area (which although common, is odd for mine). This is very new - they've always been fine. I did add 3 large bags of mulched up leaves about two weeks ago to their pine shavings, which is why I'm guessing mites.

What do I need to do - get everything out and bleach it?

 

[Opa]

You can dust them with Sevin or Poultry Dust.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I do have Sevin and DE, but we sell the eggs so I'm hesitant to use Sevin. I'm just not sure if cleaning everything out of the coop, bleaching, adding all new pine shavings and dusting each bird with DE will kill the mites? Will I need to use Sevin? (First timer with bugs, can ya tell?)

 

[birdsofparadise]

You might also try DE (diatomaceous earth). It dessicates the bugsʻ exoskeleton and then erodes it away. Sounds gory, but the beasties deserve it for bugginʻ our peeps. You can dust both the chickens and their bedding.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

I have plenty of DE - if I do each bird and mix it in well with the bedding, will that do it? Or should I get rid of it all, bleach, and start over (plus DE each bird?)

 

[birdsofparadise]

Quote:
Sorry to say it, but this is probably the safest thing to do. I had a commercial pesticide applicators license and whenever I saw a bad infestation that would not respond to treatment, it was almost always linked to poor sanitation. Seems as if that free bedding you used is going to end up a little more expensive in time and trouble then you thought.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

That's what I was afraid of. I thought "natural" would be good for them but silly me. I never thought of the bugs...

Well, guess what I'm doing tomorrow!!

 

[Chicken Woman]

I wouldn't use sevin unless you have to. Be careful when dusting them with DE that you do it outside so they don't inhale the powder. I dust under wings and butt.
I also use dry stall with DE on shavings and in nest boxes.

 

[LilRalphieRoosmama]

Thanks for the tips/info. Is it better to dust them with DE myself, or just give them a box full to do it themselves?

I do have stall dry so I will add that to their new bedding and nesting boxes.

 

[BirdBoy88]

I have a spray that i use for all my birds it's says for cage and aviary birds but when one of my chickens had mites i used the spray on her and the mites were gone before the week was over with

and you can spray the spray on surfaces as well just in case mites or lice are on the surfaces.. i've always used this spray it's done the best for me
it's called " Scalex Mite & Lice Spray For Birds "
and it has no odor