I’m being eaten alive

[cmom]

Natural remedies do nothing to get rid of parasites.

DE is actually quite harmful for the respiratory system.

@cmom, we have mites/lice over here! Please post your mite/lice info.

Here's the link.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/thoughts-s-about-mites.1408596/post-23124940

This includes mites.

 

[Ladies-Eight]

Ok- every time I go near my coop I come back with severe bites.... mites? I’ve learned that I need to wear pants (I’m in Florida and you don’t do that often) and then bathe after being out there. I’ve seen little microscopic bugs on my shirt.... I’m removing everything and spraying g down but am I battling mites? They itch like HELLLLLLLL!

Are you sure these are mites?

Looking at the pictures they resemble a fire ant bite. They are prolific around my coop and run.

Where are you located in Florida?

 

[Aapomp831]

Here's the link.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/thoughts-s-about-mites.1408596/post-23124940

This includes mites.
View attachment 2303945

See I don’t understand that... I have always used DE around my chickens and never had a problem.

 

[Aapomp831]

See I don’t understand that... I have always used DE around my chickens and never had a problem.
[/https://www.diatomaceousearthonline.com.au/blog/our-blog/using-diatomaceous-earth-with-poultry/

 

[Painted Calls]

See I don’t understand that... I have always used DE around my chickens and never had a problem.

Most likely because you didn't have any parasites to begin with.

 

[Aapomp831]

Most likely because you didn't have any parasites to begin with.

We have plenty of wild birds around our property so there would be parasites. I believe the DE is responsible for keeping my girls healthy. If you read the article I posted above it explains that there are two different types of DE. I use the food grade one that is completely harmless to animals.

 

[Painted Calls]

I use food grade DE in my feed. It's not completely useless.

I just know from experience that it does not work to get rid of parasites.

 

[Rammy]

I had a mite problem years ago and had to thoroughly clean every scrap of bedding out if the coop, sprayed it down with pymethrin spray. Then laid down DE abd Sevin dust before putting in fresh bedding.
When you spray down the coop you have to make sure to get every nook and cranny since this us where they hide. Srub down thier roost poles too.
For the chicken I treated with Eprinex. 1cc for large chickens, 1/2cc for small on the base if the neck. Do it again in 14 days each chicken.
I did the coop cleaning 2x. The second was 14 days after the first since this is about when the mite eggs hatch then you'll have a whole new problem.
Yes, its alot of work, but havent had a problem since.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

See I don’t understand that... I have always used DE around my chickens and never had a problem.

DE not welcome here OR effective in humid environments food grade or not does NOT stop the microscopic cuts from occurring all over the chickens skin! Never noticing a problem is not the same as never having a problem if we're talking about breathing..

If we're talking about parasites, maybe you simply don't have them. OR, sometimes what works for one person in one location MAY not work for another somewhere else.

I’ve seen little microscopic bugs on my shirt

The very definition of microscopic is... NOT visible to the naked eye.

Permethrin based "horse fly spray" found in the equine section of most feed stores has been very effective against poultry lice and mites, originally bought to keep mosquitoes off my goats. It's also labeled for use ON chickens with NO withdrawal time for eggs! Use it on the floor, walls, nest, roost, and birds. It has been less effective against fleas (on dogs, requires higher mix concentration come to find out) I'm facing for the first time this year, which my vet has always claimed to be the case.. but I never had an issue before now, having a known vector coming and going between two locations is extremely frustrating.

My location rarely if ever freezes allowing parasites to stay all year. Places that freeze.. get some help for nature. Molting is another natural parasitic control.

Come to find out many including fleas cannot live below 50% humidity.. and so instead of DE.. I would try corn starch, baby powder, etc. Different location have different conditions.

Garlic and acv will do ZERO if you're fighting an infestation.. and feeding a high quality ration not diminished by excessive treats is the number one way to keep birds healthy.. as they were created with their immune system.

I even did only FF for a couple years because all the touted my birds are healthier etc.. nah, not a dime of savings or improvement.. over my standard routine.. and guess what.. my birds are still healthy.

 

[LizzzyJo]

Ohhhh lol I heard bug spray and pictured someone spraying their bird. Made me cringe.

Haha no problem! It gave me a good laugh with the image! Some bugs will still bite skin that has bug spray on it so it may narrow down the species list.