I Think Mites Just Killed My Hen!!

[al6517]

Most of the above treatments are fine, the key to good control is keeping wild birds that are big carriers of Northen fowl mites away from your feeders, waterers and anything chicken related. Also you have to be more vigilant in your daily feeding chores to look closely and handle them often, this will help you nip this problem in the bud early before it becomes a problem. Mites feed on the blood of chickens and will zap them in no time flat, chickens don't have all that much blood to begin with. good luck.

AL

 

[MuranoFarms]

Quote:
x2

Ditto!
After this you can use the DE as a preventative, but you need to put a dent in the mite population NOW! Use the sevin.

It wouldn't hurt to give them some poultry drench or other vitamin supplement if you have it on hand.

 

[1-duckling]

When the weather gets good enough to where you can totally clean the house out of all bedding and can let it air out for the day, also spray the inside down with the permitherin? (that same stuff in Sevin but liquid form) that the feed store sells; every nook and cranny. This will kill any bug hiding out in the crevices. Call it "spring cleaning" of the chicken house.

I also saw one of those treadle feeders that might help with the wild birds eating with the chickens. The chicken has to step on a treadle (a board) for the food bin to open. Sparrows are too light to open the feeder. I haven't got one yet but have given the building plans to my dh. I found building plans for one when I did a Google search.