- Jan 27, 2012
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For the first time in four years we have mites in the coop and on the birds. About two weeks ago I came inside and was sitting here and felt a little bug crawling on my arm. Then about six or eight more. I smashed them all. Then it happened again, just a few another day. Then on Tuesday again after collecting eggs. I finally thought what in the world, and went and checked a broody hen in the coop and sure enough she had mites on her (this was around 3:00 in the afternoon). At first I thought they were Northern Fowl Mites. I cleaned out all of the bedding then dusted the coop and the chickens with seven dust. Today I took down the feeders and there were mites behind the feeders, I'm assuming they're behind the nest box also, so I'll remove that tomorrow. I sprayed all the walls of the coop with a mixture of water, vegetable oil and dawn dish soap. I think it killed (suffocated) some of them. I went out tonight and there are still mites crawling around in the coop, so evidently I didn't dust with seven heavily enough and I think I have a heavy infestation. I don't know if they're Northern Fowl Mites or Red Mites since they were all over on the chickens during the day when I first found them, but they were also on the walls and in the cracks during the day today and are now active at night, I thought I read that Northern Fowl didn't leave the birds?
Tomorrow I will go get some Permethrin spray and spray down the entire coop and try to get it in as many cracks as I can and I will dust the chickens again with seven. Is this the best treatment? I may get some Ivermectin pour on or Eprinex and do that as well.
I have been reading about the red mites and how they can live up to nine months without their host and have read horror stories about the red mites getting into peoples homes and on their pets. Now that I know I had them on me for those few days in the house, I'm paranoid, especially since I have an indoor cat. I'm worried about them getting carried onto my two dogs also. I have been doing the chicken chores in the evening and then washing my clothes and getting in the shower immediately.
Also, does anyone know if they survive in the soil? And do they lay eggs outside of the coop. My husband and I also noticed that there are small white eggs on the poultry net covering their run, all the way around the run. We are guessing they are some other bug though.
Tomorrow I will go get some Permethrin spray and spray down the entire coop and try to get it in as many cracks as I can and I will dust the chickens again with seven. Is this the best treatment? I may get some Ivermectin pour on or Eprinex and do that as well.
I have been reading about the red mites and how they can live up to nine months without their host and have read horror stories about the red mites getting into peoples homes and on their pets. Now that I know I had them on me for those few days in the house, I'm paranoid, especially since I have an indoor cat. I'm worried about them getting carried onto my two dogs also. I have been doing the chicken chores in the evening and then washing my clothes and getting in the shower immediately.
Also, does anyone know if they survive in the soil? And do they lay eggs outside of the coop. My husband and I also noticed that there are small white eggs on the poultry net covering their run, all the way around the run. We are guessing they are some other bug though.
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