I have mites.... Help!!!

[Molpet]

So if you can put the sulfur dust in..can you add some permethrin dust also as a preventative? Or would that be dangerous to them. I've never had a mite issue, but I think I've just been lucky.

Some people do.
. But the factory farms use permethrin as a preventative and have mites that are now resistant to it and they have to use stronger stuff.

 

[Red0214]

Hello, has anyone tried ivermectin pour on? Not approved for poultry in US, but is elsewhere and see articles and you tube videos for chicken use. Supposed to get rid of internal and external pests.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! I use permethrin, and when and if it becomes ineffective (not yet here!) I may switch to spinosad, which is also approved for use on laying hens with no egg withdrawal.
Rules change and evolve as more information comes available, so who knows what will be useful in the future?
Ivermectin works very well, and is easy to apply, which is wonderful. BUT it's not approved for laying hens here, because it will be in their egg yolks at some level for a long time. There are two problems here; developing parasite resistance to this drug, encouraged by underdosing, and those individuals extremely allergic to it, again, at very low doses.
Sometimes we do what we must, but think ahead, and don't use it just over convenience!
Mary

 

[cmom]

So if you can put the sulfur dust in..can you add some permethrin dust also as a preventative? Or would that be dangerous to them. I've never had a mite issue, but I think I've just been lucky.

Last year was the first time my birds had mites.

 

[birdwatercher64]

The best method to keep away mites, sucking and chewing lice and mosquitoes is the dog spot on applications containing permethrin. We started using it on our birds of prey after hearing about it from members of our hawking club and it works so now we use it on our pet chickens. 5 drops of medium-sized dog formula 2 under the wings, 2 at the base of the legs and one on the top of the head. It is a better alternative to spraying permethrin which can then be ingested. All of the ingredients are used on crops that humans eat.

 

[Folly's place]

Welcome! All these products work, but what's fine to use on pets, or raptors in rehab, isn't the same as what's reasonable to use on livestock. We would be horrified to hear about unapproved drugs appearing in our food supply from commercial producers (and it sometimes happens!) and IMO should do our best to comply in our home flocks.
I transgress as seldom as possible...
Mary

 

[alexisrambles]

Good point about the sulfur inhalation Mary. That's true. Hadn't thought of it.
Wow getting rid of these little buggers is more annoying than I thought considering I'm in Louisiana. It's always wet and hot here! I guess when I build them a bigger coop I'll have to keep in mind how WET it stays... And make sure to plan for raising the grade a few inches.
I put some permethrin in their dust bath for now. I'm so done with these things! D:

GO AWAY!

Update: The crested chickens (creve coeurs) are pretty skittish and won't really let me touch them at all much less catch them. I think because I had gotten such a big group of chicks (16), some are tamer than others. And the creve coeurs are definitely on the LESS tame side.

 

[ValerieJ]

I have the same problem. What is the organic or natural method to get rid of mites. Thanks

Pyrethrin is the organic version of Permethrin. They are both derived from the chrysanthemum but the Permethrin has some chemicals added to make it last longer.

 

[Folly's place]

Permethrin has a slightly different chemical structure than pyrethrin, making it more stable, especially in sunlight. Therefore needing less total insecticide to product the same effect; killing those mites!
To be totally and completely 'organic', crumble a lot of chrysanthemum flowers (who knows what kind) and use that. Maybe swimming in mums would do it?
Sorry, bad humor this morning.
Mary

 

[Molpet]

Inhaling sulfur isn't so good either!
Mary

I know when I have been caught in a dust storm inhaling dirt is an irritant. I have to assume chickens don't inhale when they dust bathe. So I don't worry about putting sulfur and such in the dust bath.