Idk what these mites are, but how do I treat them?

[alinas2010]

First time dealing with mites. I only say them bc they were crawling on the eggs this morning. Checked the girls and sure enough they have these tiny little things, too. Idk how to treat them bc idk what they are. One girl looked like she might have lice eggs, too, but idk. Need to take care of this today and clean the coop out if possible, so I need to know what to use.

I feel terrible, we’ve never had a problem before. I assume wild birds brought this on?

 

[WingItRanch]

Wow. I can't tell you what type of mites but I've been reading up on pests and I believe many people recommend the following:

1. Put some Permethrin powder in an old sock and dust all your chickens really good (get in the 'armpit' area under the wings too)
2. Pull all the bedding out of the entire coop and nest boxes
3. Spray everything down with permethrin or Elector PSP. Make sure to get in cracks and the underside of the roost bars. Let dry and add all new bedding.
4. Redust your chickens after a few days (need to verify the egg laying cycle of the pests) to kill any new ones that hatched.

Good luck! That's so stressful!

 

[alinas2010]

Thank you! This is so frustrating! We’ve never had issues before and I just had surgery so it wasn’t what I wanted to deal with right now. But I am going to take care of it asap! Humans can’t pick mites up form chickens can we?

 

[WingItRanch]

Bummer! When it rains, it pours!

I believe the mites and lice can jump onto humans but they don't like us as much as feathered and furry animals so won't stay on long.

The good news is I believe the treatment will take care of both pests if you do, in fact, have both mites and lice.

 

[alinas2010]

Thank you so much! That makes me feel a bit better at least. Yes it seems like there couldn’t have been worse timing lol that’s the way life goes I guess.

Do you know, if I switched their bedding out to sand in the coop, would that be better to keep mites at bay? They currently have hemp and while I do like it, we’re been thinking of sand for a while. Maybe this is the push I need?

 

[WingItRanch]

Thank you so much! That makes me feel a bit better at least. Yes it seems like there couldn’t have been worse timing lol that’s the way life goes I guess.

Do you know, if I switched their bedding out to sand in the coop, would that be better to keep mites at bay? They currently have hemp and while I do like it, we’re been thinking of sand for a while. Maybe this is the push I need?

I'm not sure! I've never used sand.. a quick search of the site says it won't matter to the pests if it's sand or any other bedding.

 

[alinas2010]

I'm not sure! I've never used sand.. a quick search of the site says it won't matter to the pests if it's sand or any other bedding.

Ah, okay. Thank you! I’m so horrified by this lol I appreciate you responding!

 

[WingItRanch]

Ah, okay. Thank you! I’m so horrified by this lol I appreciate you responding!

Of course! I think it's bound to happen.

 

[alinas2010]

Do mites do damage to the skin? There are some weird I think like scabby looking areas by the vents. I got them dusted with permethrin, I hope it works. Got the coop cleaned out and sprayed down too

 

[WingItRanch]

Poor thing. That might be from the hen scratching and biting at the itchy mites.