Is Diazinon safe for the chickens' coop?

[rosemarythyme]

But sometimes, if you want to solve nasty problems like this one with the mites, you have to use chemicals. I don't like the idea either, but I'm sure that cohabitating with those parasites is very unpleasant for the birds.

I definitely agree. I try to raise my chickens as organically as possible but when it comes to parasites, all bets are off. I can't imagine having to combat mites for a whole year... I've been doing it the last couple of weeks and that's bad enough.

I really hope your vet's recommendation works out for you and that you finally get rid of the infestation.

 

[Kiki]

Can you buy Permethrin there?

 

[NatureHouse17]

I definitely agree. I try to raise my chickens as organically as possible but when it comes to parasites, all bets are off. I can't imagine having to combat mites for a whole year... I've been doing it the last couple of weeks and that's bad enough.

I really hope your vet's recommendation works out for you and that you finally get rid of the infestation.

Ectoparasites are definitely an annoying issue and they seem very resistant, they just don't disappear despite all my efforts.
We'll see what happens this time.

 

[NatureHouse17]

Can you buy Permethrin there?

Yes, I can get it. Have you successfully used it? How about its toxicity?
In here I never heard of it as a solution for disinfesting animals' enclousures, just for getting rid of ants, cockroaches etc. inside buildings.

 

[BDutch]

There are more possibilities / methods you can use (not using poison):

1. Gather all the hay, shavings and put it in a plastic bag and in the garbage to prevent re-infestation.
2. You could use a steamer to clean the coop + nr 4. And repeat this after 10 days. Or not repeat and apply nr 5.
3. Carefully rub diatomaceous earth (DE) under the wings of you’re chickens if they settle to sleep - careful - don’t inhale the DE. And repeat this after 10 days.
4. You can put grease (vaseline, oil) where the roosts are connected to the walls of the coop.
5. You can make a ‘paint’ of diatomaceous earth (DE) with water and paint all the cracks in the coop, the surfaces where the chickens/ducks rest on and everywhere the chickens / ducks can touch the coop. And in the nest boxes.
6. Did you make the distance between the roost and the wall big enough so the feathers dont touch the wall?
7. You can put sand on the bottom of the coop mixed with a little DE instead of e.g. wood shavings (don’t inhale the DE while preparing)
8. Put a thin layer of sand with DE under the hay in the nestbox. Clean it every
9. Make a dust bath inside the coop , like a tub with sand a few spoons DE.
10. Monitor the amount of mites with a roll of ribbed paper or kitchen paper you lay in the nest boxes and bind under the roost.
11. Prevention not a solution: Make windows, let the light in. Bird mite hate light. Put some lavender, tabacco and such in the nest boxes.

 

[aart]

Can you buy Permethrin there?

Yes, I can get it. Have you successfully used it? How about its toxicity?
In here I never heard of it as a solution for disinfesting animals' enclousures, just for getting rid of ants, cockroaches etc. inside buildings.

Permethrin is pretty much the go-to insecticide here in the US.
Dust or spray for direct application to the birds skin.
Spray to soak all the cracks and crevices in the coop.
There is no egg or meat withdrawal.

 

[NatureHouse17]

There are more possibilities / methods you can use (not using poison):

1. Gather all the hay, shavings and put it in a plastic bag and in the garbage to prevent re-infestation.
2. You could use a steamer to clean the coop + nr 4. And repeat this after 10 days. Or not repeat and apply nr 5.
3. Carefully rub diatomaceous earth (DE) under the wings of you’re chickens if they settle to sleep - careful - don’t inhale the DE. And repeat this after 10 days.
4. You can put grease (vaseline, oil) where the roosts are connected to the walls of the coop.
5. You can make a ‘paint’ of diatomaceous earth (DE) with water and paint all the cracks in the coop, the surfaces where the chickens/ducks rest on and everywhere the chickens / ducks can touch the coop. And in the nest boxes.
6. Did you make the distance between the roost and the wall big enough so the feathers dont touch the wall?
7. You can put sand on the bottom of the coop mixed with a little DE instead of e.g. wood shavings (don’t inhale the DE while preparing)
8. Put a thin layer of sand with DE under the hay in the nestbox. Clean it every
9. Make a dust bath inside the coop , like a tub with sand a few spoons DE.
10. Monitor the amount of mites with a roll of ribbed paper or kitchen paper you lay in the nest boxes and bind under the roost.
11. Prevention not a solution: Make windows, let the light in. Bird mite hate light. Put some lavender, tabacco and such in the nest boxes.

Thank you very much for your advice! The DE method sounds interesting, I didn't know anything about it. So, next time when I will need to disinfest the coop, I'll definitely give it a try. On your recommendation, I put some vaseline at the point where roosts connect to the walls + some lavender in the nest. One roost is pretty close and feathers can touch the coop's wall...

 

[BDutch]

Thank you very much for your advice! The DE method sounds interesting, I didn't know anything about it. So, next time when I will need to disinfest the coop, I'll definitely give it a try. On your recommendation, I put some vaseline at the point where roosts connect to the walls + some lavender in the nest. One roost is pretty close and feathers can touch the coop's wall...

There any many people here saying the DE doesn’t help. Maybe because in the US are another type of bird mite? I don’t know.
If it doesn’t work for you better listen to the ones who using other means that help. And please keep me informed.

 

[NatureHouse17]

It's been 4 days since I made the second round of spraying with diazinon and cypermethrin. For now, things seem great, as I didn't see any mites in the coop. I know that 4 days are not enough for drawing conclusions but it's the first time in more than 1 year when I don't spot any parasite after a disinfestation. And outside it's pretty warm (around 17 degrees C), so the mites would have been already on duty.
For the chickens, I used an ecological spray with Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium extract (Galy Eco is the product). Plus, they have full-day access to the ashes tub.

Overall, I'm happy with the result for now. It looks like diazinon can be an effective method in combating ectoparasites (but you must be careful and respect the safety measures, as this chemical is toxic for your birds; NEVER spray on/around them!)
I will let you know about how are the things going in time.

Wish you all the best to you and your animals!