LF help with scaly mites and maybe lice

[Mac22]

I have a backyard coop with 19 chickens of various ages. I noticed that the red stars and a couple other older chickens have scaly leg mites. They may have lice but I can't see any. I have coated their legs with vasoline and dipped all the chickens legs in vegetable oil. Will keep this up for a couple of weeks. I cleaned all the sand out of the coop and bedding out of the nesting boxes yesterday. I am going to get something to dust the coop with today. I have read pros and cons on Diatomaceous earth. Not sure if I should use that or not. Any suggestions on what to buy? Do I need to throw out the wood shavings I put in yesterday after cleaning the coop or can I just spread the product through out and leave those shavings. What should I dust the chickens with in case they do have lice? I have had the chickens for a few years and this is my first time dealing with pests. Lastly, the have a sandy fenced in run outside their coop. What do you suggest I do with that sand? Dust it? It is far too much to remove.

 

[pineapple416]

Diatomaceous Earth is natural but in my experience it didn't work very well on killing the mites. I would buy a mite/lice powder not any specific kind just one you can find at a feed store. Sevin is the best but not available in our area. You can probably just spread the product through the shavings from yesterday and it will not be a problem. Yes you should dust your chickens if you are worried that they have lice as well. If a chicken gets infested by lice I would put a drop of frontline flea medicine on their neck but where they won't be able to get it in their mouth from preening. This saved one of our chickens lives once. The sand outside is probably fine, usually mites live on your birds and in their coop, but you can dust it to if you want to be safe. Good luck.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Treat your chickens and your coop/nesting boxes with a Permethrin based poultry spray or dust. Follow the manufacturer's labeling, but most of the time you will need to re-treat the chickens and coop again in 7-10days to kill any nits that have hatched. http://www.backyardchickens.com/t/1151513/pesticides-approved-for-poultry

You can also use Spinosad, it's more expensive, but I have heard good things about it.

 

[Mac22]

Diatomaceous Earth is natural but in my experience it didn't work very well on killing the mites. I would buy a mite/lice powder not any specific kind just one you can find at a feed store. Sevin is the best but not available in our area. You can probably just spread the product through the shavings from yesterday and it will not be a problem. Yes you should dust your chickens if you are worried that they have lice as well. If a chicken gets infested by lice I would put a drop of frontline flea medicine on their neck but where they won't be able to get it in their mouth from preening. This saved one of our chickens lives once. The sand outside is probably fine, usually mites live on your birds and in their coop, but you can dust it to if you want to be safe. Good luck.

Great - Thanks for the advice. Hadn't thought of frontline but that should be easy to pick up. I got the DE so will give it a try. Couldn't find any other products at the store I was at but will keep looking. Appreciate your thoughts.

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Hi, welcome to BYC!

Ivermectin cattle wormer is used for scaly leg mites as they are a systemic parasite that MAY not be effected by the permethrin (I prefer spray over dust, seems easier to use) and is why they aren't included on the label. It isn't labeled for poulrty, but my guess is frontline isn't either (that is the best product when I need to use something for my dogs). Don't know egg withdrawal time for either. No withdrawal is required for permethrin spray if used according to directions.

I personally hate DE and wouldn't give it to my enemy. Your in for a long drawn out fight if that's the only method you use.

http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2016/12/the-cut-dry-truth-about-diatomaceous.html

Permethrin spray has been VERY effective against lice and regular mites here. I like that it's safe, affordable, effective, and EASY to use. Doing so at roost after dark with a flashlight makes for no chasing of birds. Just keep the lights off. It is the synthetic version of Spinosad, but to me poison is poison, natural or not.

Good luck!

 

[Mac22]

So glad you sent me that link. I thought I had read somewhere that she didn't recommend it but couldn't find the link. The DE will go back to the store.