Major Mite Infesation

[HudsonValleyGirl]

I would put your chickens outside for the day and give them a dusting of DE. I would then take out everything from the coop, clean it, and put DE on the floor, cracks and nesting boxes. Then I would apply bedding and then put DE in the bedding and in the nesting boxes. Clean their roost and apply DE.

 

[chickerdoodle]

Quote:
I agree--remove the chickens and clean the entire coop--power wash it if you can and then prime and paint inside the coop with outdoor paint. Air it out well. Power wash the outside and paint if needed. Sand the wood (including the roost!) and fill any cracks inside the coop before painting. Then dust liberally (wear a good mask) with Sevin or DE. The chickens should be dusted with Sevin or DE while they are outside of the coop. Then every few days go into the coop at night and check for the mites on the hens and on the roost. Its warfare with these dagnabit mites --you have to get out the big guns or you'll lose.

 

[MotherJean]

I'd like to take a poll - those of you who advocate using DE for a mite infestation, please raise your hand if you've ACTUALLY had a mite infestation and treated it successfully with DE.

I'm a real advocate of DE and I use it liberally in my coop and run as a preventative measure, but I have to agree with Patandchickens. Fighting a major infestation of mites with food grade DE is really sending a boy to do a man's job.

 

[stampntam]

I use DE ( but I am new to this chicken stuff) and would really like to know that question too. Will it get rid of the mites?

 

[elmo]

Here's a good link I found:

http://poultrykeeper.com/chickens/health/red-mite.html

If you use an insecticide dust it's important to retreat in about a week because the mite eggs won't be affected by the dust and the new mites will hatch out about then. Good luck!

Mites are awful.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

DE has its uses, but rteating a pest infestation is not one of them. It may help prevent pests--the jury is still out on htat as there are equal numbers of studies that proclaim its miraculous wonders as there are that debunk it as completely useless. My opinion is somewhere in the middle.

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

If the coop itself is that infested, you should probably get an insecticidal bomb to rid it entirely of bugs. (after of ourse you get rid of all litter and clean it thoroughly) Read the label for how long it should be left empty, and make sure it is at least that long. Longer would not hurt. You will of course need somewhere secure for your birds during this timeframe.

You should also treat them. Depending on the number, you can bathe them in flea/tick shampoo, spray with flea/tick spray or dust them. Personally I prefer bathing them, and I have LOTS of birds. At this time of year getting them chilled is rarely an issue.

Ivermectin pour-on applied to their skin (I prefer the wing pit; some use the back of the neck) is effective against pests that bite the birds; I don't think it will affect feather mites, however. It is also a broad-spectrum wormer.

 

[loot4louie]

Hi- Could you help me with a few questions as I am a newbie. What is DE? I have heard you can sprinkle bedding with Sevin as preventative? Do you use basic cattle grade liquid ivermectin on them? If so how much and where? Thank You in advance for all your help!! Love this forum!

 

[Aunt Tat]

You can order DE food grade from Countryside (I think that's the name). 50# bag delivered right to your door. Empty out the coop and dust every thing and everyone including the nest boxes. You might want to spread some outside the coop as well if it's dry out.

Hope your coop is cootie free soon

Rancher

I FINALLY know what a "cootie" is!! (besides a game)
Going on 67 and STILL learning!!! LOL

 

[cmom]

Most of the time it is an imaginary germ or disease that one can catch by touching a person who is disliked or socially avoided, also a louse, especially one affecting humans, as the body louse, head louse, or pubic louse. I suppose you could call mites or lice a cootie too.