Lice and Mites..How do you know?

[Rocky Top Chick]

I have a flock of 17, 21 weeks old and I don't believe they have lice or mites, but everyone on here states that most flocks get them. How will I know? My chickens act normal and aren't scratching. If this a given or do some flocks just get lucky. I think I may be getting paranoid. Please help me.

 

[lovemychix]

Look around the vent and under the wings. YOu will know you can see them. Use sevin dust to treat them. That is the best thing I've found. I've tried to go all natural and they still get on the birds.

 

[Rocky Top Chick]

I looked today and nothing unusual. I did buy 7 dust just in case and keep it in the coop. Now I am reading all kinds of bad things about 7. This chicken thing is getting too complicated to me. Would I just dust them the same as I have done dogs in the past? I also use stall dry in the coop so would it be a good idea to go ahead and spread some 7 in with the stall dry just to prevent them? Thanks for your response.

 

[stephhassler]

Well, I'm fairly new at this. I'm only in my second year of keeping chickens. But I have never had mites. I did get a rooster last year from someone. He had mites so I gave him a dust bath in potash. It seemed to work because he no longer had the mites and I've never had an insect problem yet . . . knock on wood.

 

[lovemychix]

I take a pantyhose kneehigh and fill it with the seven dust and use it as a poof and make sure you get it everywhere. Like I said before I never had luck with the "natural" stuff. Just make sure to do it outside. I do sprinkle it in the bottom of the nest boxes after cleaning them just to keep the critters away.

I don't have to dust my birds very often. I actually use the Poultry dust made for chickens,but sevin dust is good too.

 

[Ridgerunner]

This site has some pictures that might help you identify mites and lice if you have them. Roost mites do not live on a chicken but hide in cracks and crevices during the day and attack the chicken at night. You have to do a nighttime inspection to find them. You can find northern mites, tropical mites, and lice with a daytime inspection. Not everyone has mites or lice, but almost everyone will experience them at some time if they keep chickens. They are hard to avoid.

Ohio State – Mites and Lice
http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

Some people use Sevin in the coop as a preventative. I prefer to use insecticides only when I am treating a known problem. It is a personal choice.

Good luck!