How to treat mites with DE?

[greenmulberry]

Howdy all, let me join the ranks of chicken owners who have come to realize the their hens have mites. Sigh.

I have DE, (the good stuff from permaguard) but I am not sure how to use it to rid the birds of mites.

I went and added a few scoops to the coop bedding, and about just under a quarter cup to each nest box.

I caught my two very friendly hens, and patted DE on their bottoms where it seems the mites hand out.

Today, I will be giving them a dusting pan of DE and wood ash. They do not have an official dusting pan, just wherever they feel like dusting in the run, otherwise, I know they have some dust holes out free ranging, but these are not places I can easily get to put DE in. I would have to climb rusty barbed wire fences and other obstacles to get there.

What else can I be doing? I would like to catch all of my hens and pat them with DE, however, I have two hens that I got as adults that are really terrified of being caught. I tried to catch one the other day and she started bashing herself into a wall trying to get away as I slowly walked up and finally flew right over my head. My other "wild" hen has a defect, she has all five toes on her feet curled into a fist, so she is quite handicapped, and I worry about her injuring herself in a panic trying to escape me. I can already tell that her feet have been hurting her more than in the past year, and I would feel so bad if she injured herself and got bumblefoot, especially since she is so wild she would be very hard to treat. She is a good hen, just doesn't like getting within 15 feet of people/

If I must catch these wild hens, I will, but it will be very hard on them and me. I wonder if people have had success ridding the hens of mites without dusting all the hens? What else can I do? I was thinking of brushing the powder all over the roosts, I have flat 2X4 roosts, so I think I could get a thick coating of the DE up there.

I have plenty of DE, so it isn't a problem to use plenty. (and I know all the safety concerns as well.)

 

[Wildsky]

I've never had a problem with mites, I throw DE out everywhere.... I just did it this evening - I probably don't do it often ENOUGH, I do it about once a month or so - my chickens run is now covered with it, I threw (kids size) shovel fulls under the fruit tree's where they like to wallow when its hot, I threw a few of those shovel fulls into the coop on the floor (dirt floor) and pretty much where ever they're going to be wandering around tomorrow - they're sure to all get some......

I would probably personally dust them all if I found mites... as you have done puff it on their belly's and bums - perhaps some on the neck and back area as well.

Check them again in a day or two and re-do if you still see the mites.....

 

[Hangin Wit My Peeps]

There is a women I know who shows giant cochins and she uses frontline spray for mites and she said it works wonders! She never seen a mite while using it. You can buy if from petmeds and you use a spray under each wing...above the bum area...and on the back of the neck.