Looking for Parasite sources in Coop Bedding Materials

[SegiDream]

Permethrin should be applied in at least 2 treatments 7-10 days apart to get any newly hatched eggs....might need 3 treatments.

I meant after treatment is finished....

 

[linguini]

Hello!.. I'm dealing with my first mite/lice whatever infestation and believe I have that underway using neem oil and DE... ( came to this conclusion after much ado about the bugs)... I have read that some people reported having parasite problems after buying products like straw, from a ( Chain Store - unnammed but assumed by me to maybe be TS).. I had bought some straw for nesting boxes and noticed when I brought it home the hens would push it out of the boxes that still had coms coco coir in them.. ) ( they are pretty smart birds they are.. ) but I was less smart.. Then secondly I'd been impressed with the Carolina Coops stratgey of deep bedding so I had ordered several bales of the industrial hemp which I began to use for deep bedding..( liked how it seemed to remove smells almost immediately.. ) Ok.. fast fwd..
A week or so ago I discovered we had unwanted guests on the birds so I've been reading and reading and began treatment after much moderation. I'm struggling but feel confident I can manage with persisting and keeping up treatments.. I went into my coop at night 3 hrs after dark looking for any mites but didn't see any movement. ( I read some kinds you can't see) We had just finished insulating the coop the day before I noticed the birds had bugs. ( lucky me if I insulated over a problem) but for now I"m assuming otherwise. We also have a large population of Wild Black Turkeys that hang out in the yard in the same environs that my sometimes free ranging guys and gals use. I've found a turkey or two in the coop on occasion and I"m most suspicious that they may have become the vector of my mite/ or whatever it is problem. I gave up trying to figure out what it is at this time as none of the pictures or discussions I read seem like what I see., and from what I read its all treated the same way. I can see small tiny brownish or dark "beings" scurrying on the skin when I part feathers that are almost invisible to nake eye ( assuming mites)... I also saw feathers that looked as one person described as "Q-tips" on some birds.. some of my birds .. some of my birds seem to have almost none.
I'm just paddling along.. I've done a lot in my long life.. but this is an education I was not prepared for but somehow I enjoy these birds so much, and they never cease to amaze me with how smart they are. I respect chickens. I thank them every night for their eggs before I leave after singing them a song. I think they like me too.
I can't tell you how rewarding it was to wash my white roo who was the most infected in a hot soak of neem oil, dish soap and a few essential oils. He became like spagetti and seeme do enjoy and appreciate it so much. Now I"m off to treat 15 more birds... Any feedback on any of this is greatly appreciated as much as my Roo enjoyed his bath . I also followed up with DE dusting after drying and spraying Poultry Protector on coop and birds ( back of neck, under wings, and tail/vent areas).
I was going to try to do the Ivermec but pulled back after reading about symptoms humans have experienced after taking it that birds can't speak too. Just because something works doesn't mean it's the best choice. I think it would have been faster for sure but if I can't make time for them, I realize I should not have them. They are a responsibility I did not understand the depth of but I really feel like you get back what you give in this world.. Thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts.

Our entire flock of 8 were infested with lice soon after they were moved into the outside coop and run in our yard - both structures were completely new when they moved in. We have trees and lots of wild birds around. The chooks were about 3 months old. We tried DE earth, not useful at all. Then we used 10% Permetherin (garden dust) powder, it's so effective that we could see the the lice dropped out of their body with our naked eyes!

We spread out a large white garbage bag on the grass (to contain the powder mess), one person held down the chicken by their feet and put them on their side, the other person rub the powder under the wings, vent, and all around the body. Since the bag and the powder are all white, you can see the dead lice falling out of their body. We repeated the treatment two more times, 10 days apart. Never had any more problems since. They also become expert in digging holes for their dirt bath.
One very important caution in using Permethrin is that DO NOT let the powder get into water - it's toxic for the environment. Wear gloves and mask while giving treatment to your birds!

 

[Folly's place]

We treat everyone in the coop and run, never outside. Any insecticide is bad for the critters outdoors! Dry DE is also not good out there...
Mary

 

[SegiDream]

We treat everyone in the coop and run, never outside. Any insecticide is bad for the critters outdoors! Dry DE is also not good out there...
Mary

When used sparingly and appropriately it can do more good than harm. It is listed under the FDA as "Generally Recognized as Safe" and is rendered practically useless once damp, made of silica that is found naturally in the environment. This might be a hot topic so I won't say anything further on this topic other than to say I've used it for years without any ill effects on garden plants or animals and this seems more like something that is just up to the individual to decide if they want to use it or not.

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html

 

[Beamerz]

When used sparingly and appropriately it can do more good than harm. It is listed under the FDA as "Generally Recognized as Safe" and is rendered practically useless once damp, made of silica that is found naturally in the environment. This might be a hot topic so I won't say anything further on this topic other than to say I've used it for years without any ill effects on garden plants or animals and this seems more like something that is just up to the individual to decide if they want to use it or not.

http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html
View attachment 2533125

this is encouraging.. my sense is that it's not a toxic substance but when using I think we need to be cognizant of not breathing it in and also doing what we can to minimize that for the birds. Thanks great bit of factual info!

 

[Beamerz]

I have noted the different opinions on the ivermec, it is most definitely potent stuff.

I do not remember much controversy as to using Permethrin, and it is most definitely effective. I usually use a stronger concentration, in a horse fly spray, to spray down the coop when a deep clean is needed.

But yes, I completely understand your wish to try to be as earth friendly and organic as possible. It is a most noble goal.

One can try but when you come up against a wall.. and you need to move it.. sometimes we just need to get out the big guns! Thanks...

 

[aart]

I've used it for years without any ill effects on garden plants or animals and this seems more like something that is just up to the individual to decide if they want to use it or not.

Well, ......but it won't take care of a poultry pest problem.

 

[Winter Creek Coop]

Well, ......but it won't take care of a poultry pest problem.

I use it to keep the weevils out of my stored feed. It does seem to keep weevils at bay since its a dry environment.

 

[Winter Creek Coop]

Well, ......but it won't take care of a poultry pest problem.

It made no noticable impact on mites when I have tried it in the past.

 

[Beamerz]

Logically ( to me "who still knows zip about chickens") I think it's hard to disperse onto 99.9% of an animal.. and mites have legs so they can find a place without the offensive powder.. I'm more hopeful about the dip I did with the dish soap, dog shampoo, NEEM OIL and essential oils because I sprayed their necks with Poultry Protector.. a RING around the neck before I began so that any pest would not travel up to the head like fleas do when you bathe a dog .. then I dipped in very warm water and you could see the "buggers" floating in the water I let them stay in for at least 10 minutes and worked the feathers.. Tonight I'll spray the three target zones behind head, under wings and tail / vent areas to back it up... I will likely dust with D/E too in a few days.. I'll try to leave no stone unturned but even as I labor.. ( bombed the coop yesterday with a great product I'll post about as it's not where I am right now) that I got at my grain store ..approved for use in poultry production.
My real problem is Wild Turkeys that my neighbor importated from Virginal years ago here to M.V. Island where I live. They are an endangered species and ever so docile to boot.. but they have propagated in the mild winters and I started out with 3 when I got my birds last spring then their were 5 plus next 10 now I have at least 15 that come through the yard... They pick up scratch grains I throw on a cement slab for the chickens and I thought Great.. good for Rat control because they'd come by after the chickens had gone to roost..but I think they were leaving mites quite possibly and I don't know how to get rid of them other than to turn a cold shoulder to them as they are a protected endangered species ( Black Turkeys)... I'm definitely in over my head.. I just keep paddling! Thanks