I think I may of lost all my chickens to Mites?

[babypeeps]

Last year I had 10 chickens, I have NO Idea what they all died of, but I thought possibly mites? this was my first time having chickens and it was devistating to me and my family. I had one chicken who lived and I gave her to my friend who had other chickens, a week later she also died.

I feel horrible, i never want this to happen again.

We are getting ready to receive our new baby chicks in a couple weeks. I plan on making a dusting box in their run, but I would also like to know, do I need to dust them regularly and if so how do you all do this? i've read some put the stuff by the dusting boxes and just need to know how to do this and WHEN to do this. and what age of the chicken SAFE to dust them.

Clueless here. Thanks for all your help!

 

[Imp]

Here's some info about mites 7 lice.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

I have never dusted my birds. I would only dust if I saw parasites. I do sprinkle poultry dust under the bedding.
I read that some do dust regularly. Good luck

Imp

 

[yotetrapper]

What makes you think you lost them due to mites?

 

[rachaelc]

Thats terrible to lose so many the first time..

Good for you to try again. Why do you think it was mites?

Just curious...?
Was there anything else that might have contributed to losing them all?

Rachael C- mother of all

 

[babypeeps]

thank you Imp

As to why I think this, it's just something that I've had a lot of people tell me they think probably happened. My dad raised chickens all of his life and he seems to think this is what happened. that they had a bad mite infestation. Do i know this for fact? No. They were healthy full grown thriving chickens and then they were gone. the other died a week later at my friends house. I just think this is what happened. I have no clue. i do know nothing got a hold of them and they were not acting sick or anything. I have no idea, but wanted information no dusting. thanks for the information, it's much appreciated!

 

[PunkinPeep]

Quote:
If mites or lice kill a chicken, they do so by sucking too much of their blood. If you had healthy-looking full grown chickens, then i do not think that mites were the problem. A chicken dying from mite infestation will look sick because it is. Also, babies or otherwise ill chickens are most susceptible to that level of infestation by mites.

I know mysterious deaths are very frustrating, and i'm very sorry for your loss.

I do hope your next flock is in great shape.

Question: the flock you lost, did you get them as adult chickens? or did you raise them from chicks?