Is 100% prevention possible?

[LindseyC]

I've read all about providing dust bathing areas to help prevent mites, fleas, etc. My question is, is it possible to prevent them completely? I mean, is it something that I will more than likely be dealing with as a chicken keeper at some point no matter what precautions are taken? I just want to do anything I can to avoid it, if possible. The girls will be heading out to the coop in a few days and it's my first time at all of this. I just want to do everything I can to ensure that tiny pests won't be a problem. The big pests are covered because this sucker is like Fort Knox. It's the little ones I'm worried about now. I'm stressed out just thinking about it... the thought of mite/flea infested chickens sounds awful.

 

[CCUK]

Most hens live with some amount of mites/lice and don't have a problem dealing with them themselves so long as they have a dust bath area. If you go into the coop and run and feel itchy you may have a problem. Check your hens regularly, once a week or whenever you hold one. If you do notice them you can treat with permethrin spray or powder. You can also use ivermectin but there is a withdrawal for about 7-10 days. When I clean my hens I just put some powder in the bottom of the nest boxes. Once a month i do I deep clean with disinfectant amd permethrin spray. Im never completely free from them but they are minimal.

 

[LindseyC]

Thank you! That makes me feel better. I just want to do any/everything I can to head it off to where it isn't a huge problem. *sigh*

 

[CCUK]

Thank you! That makes me feel better. I just want to do any/everything I can to head it off to where it isn't a huge problem. *sigh*

I don't know anybody who hadn't had to deal with them. But it's not a problem so long as it doesn't get out of control. Good husbandry will go along way to help minimise them.

 

[Egghead_Jr]

If you burn wood or have access to free ash you can mix that in with soil or sand for a dust bath area. People use anything from old tires to old metal wash basins to contain a dusting area that is dry and will aid in prevention. Just dry fine sand will go a long way, wood ash or DE mixed in even better. Our coop is on stilts so provides area underneath for old wash basin dusting area. They still make their own around the yard but will consistently use that wood ash bath especially in wet weather.

Will you have to deal with treatment some day? Oh yes, it's inevitable. With some minor preventative care that day could be a years in coming and may not need again every year. I use the Permethrin liquid and mix it up in a garden sprayer. A bit of pain as you have to retreat in 7 days, as with any treatment, or the eggs that were not killed will hatch and start the infestation all over.

 

[LindseyC]

I have ordered food grade DE and permethrin to have ready. I'll be sure to add the DE to their dust bathing area. I'll also give everything a good dusting before they go in. Is dusting and spraying ahead of time overkill? Thanks for the suggestions! An old tire would be perfect. I'm sure the hubby can hunt one down somewhere. Our large run will be covered, but no guarantees it couldn't get damp. Would it be better to have the dust bath in the coop or no? Or one in each area?

 

[Murmur]

I use a steam wallpaper stripper in my henhouse once a year. Concentrate on the nooks and crannies. The boiling steam kills all the red mites and eggs if there are any but you're using no chemicals at all. Then make up a sludgy mud pie mix with DE and a little water and paint it all over the inside of the hut and perches. It's sticky and seals any cracks in the hut where
pesty things can hide out. It drys in no time and lasts about a year. Seems to work for me...

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

I have ordered food grade DE and permethrin to have ready. I'll be sure to add the DE to their dust bathing area. I'll also give everything a good dusting before they go in. Is dusting and spraying ahead of time overkill? Thanks for the suggestions! An old tire would be perfect. I'm sure the hubby can hunt one down somewhere. Our large run will be covered, but no guarantees it couldn't get damp. Would it be better to have the dust bath in the coop or no? Or one in each area?

DE does wonders for killing mites and lice.
Don't listen to people who tell you otherwise.

 

[casportpony]

DE does wonders for killing mites and lice.
Don't listen to people who tell you otherwise.

DE did not work for me.

 

[Cluckcluck1215]

DE did not work for me.

Well, Like with all things, it won't work for everybody.