I Think Mites Just Killed My Hen!!

[abChicken]

I had a flock of 25 delewares was inside house every day all sudden mites everwhere
I dusted chickens and house solved problem.Presently dont have any

due to illness in October.
when weather breakes i will get me a few more, just a few

 

[EmmyGirl]

I'm sorry about your illness in October

I'm definitely adding routine dusting of the coop (and inspection for mites on my girls) to my routine. I hate to point a finger, but we've noticed a ton of sparrows in their coop area recently due to all the snow, scavenging for layer crumbles. I wonder if they helped the infestation along. I still can't believe Doris is gone, it's surreal. Couldn't imagine losing all my girls at once, ugh.
Thanks abChicken

 

[Camelot Farms]

I am sorry for your loss. It is serving to remind me to go check my breeder pens for those mites. I have a couple who arents keeping weight on and now I am wondering....

 

[EmmyGirl]

Thanks Camelot. Definitely recommend checking, wouldn't hurt and might catch something early.

 

[abChicken]

EmmyGirl think u have a point about sparrows--as long as u keep check u b ok-
looking for spring

 

[EmmyGirl]

Thanks everybody for all the advice. The remaining 3 girls had no signs of mites under wings or around vents but gave them a good dusting and the coop a good cleaning and dusting with Sevin and DE. Will do it again in 2 weeks and be more vigilant in future. Think one of my downfalls was using straw as bedding. Any bit of moisture and it compacts too much and was probably a haven for those nasty mites to hide under. Changed to pine shavings mixed with DE, nice and light and fluffy. Thanks again!!!!

 

[new chick 203]

I'm so sorry.

We lost a girl recently and the only outward sign we could see was lice. We treated that but she passed anyway. The vet said that sometimes mites and lice can be a symptom of something else underlying. I know it's hard to think about it, but I would have an autopsy done to make sure that there isn't anything to be concerned about with your other girls, just to make sure.

 

[Judy]

Yeah, I'd say your problem was a combination of the sparrows and the straw, though the mites will live in any bedding or wood cracks; straw makes a good home for them, though, as they do well inside the hollow places.

Don't depend on DE, it might cut them down a bit, but I've read of birds dying of mites when treated regularly with DE. Permethirn might be a bit safer than Sevin but Sevin is very effective. I use a permithrin/pyrethrin product and check the birds regularly, but I will use the Sevin if I ever see any sign of infestation.

Now to get rid of those sparrows -- this is where they come from, wild birds, just flying over can do it, though. Good luck.

 

[EmmyGirl]

Thanks guys. I'm going to get a new bag of Sevin, ours is a few years old and want to make sure I have full potency for the round 2 treatment. Our bag said 5%--I'm guessing this is the only strength it comes in?

 

[dawg53]

Quote:
Sevin dust comes in 10% ...dont use it... use the 5%, much safer.