How long do scaley leg mites live without chickens?

[DenverBird]

Currently taking a break from the world of backyard chickens. The coop is cleaned out and sanitized, ready for new pullets if / when we decide to resume backyard chickens. We had an infection of scaley leg mites before getting rid of our birds.

How long will the scaley leg mites live in the backyard habitat without chicken hosts to make a nice, warm home in? We're in Denver and the weather should be getting down into single digits at some point this winter with at lest a few days of consecutive sub-freezing temps, along with plenty of good hard frosts.

Any responses much appreciated,

-DB

 

[ChickenCanoe]

Not sure about scaly leg mites but red roost mites can survive 6 months without a chicken host.

 

[sunflour]

Freezing doesn't kill them, mites are like ticks - a fellow who does hunting editorials for newspapers tried freezing ticks to kill them. Shocking, they lived thru it and became active once thawed.

Since the scaly leg mites live their entire life in the skin and transfer thru direct contact it would seem that removal of your flock and thorough cleaning of the coop and run would have eliminated the problem.

 

[sunflour]

If I had the problem, I would spray the coop with a poultry approved mitocide....it would solve the question.

 

[chickengeorgeto]

.... How long will the scaley leg mites live in the backyard habitat without chicken hosts....

It probably doesn't matter because wild birds will introduce or reintroduce the scaly leg mites.