Microscopic bugs?

[Ted Brown]

Hmmmmmm...

I did a bit of research and it seems that Frontline contains derivatives of chrysanthemum (ie same as permethrin and other insecticides).

Further, "fipronil" (ie Frontline) impacts eggs, is implicated in bee colony collapse, is toxic to rainbow trout and other life (see Wikipedia), etc.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that sulphur and persistence will help me out.

 

[roosterhavoc]

Hmmmmmm...

I did a bit of research and it seems that Frontline contains derivatives of chrysanthemum (ie same as permethrin and other insecticides).

Further, "fipronil" (ie Frontline) impacts eggs, is implicated in bee colony collapse, is toxic to rainbow trout and other life (see Wikipedia), etc.

I am keeping my fingers crossed that sulphur and persistence will help me out.

Yep and permethrin is toxic to cats. Pick your poison. Totally up to you what you decide to use. I prefer to use something that actually works where I can treat once a year and be done with it.
There’s no shortage of honey bees in my yard.
Good luck and hopefully you get it under control.

 

[Ted Brown]

...
I prefer to use something that actually works where I can treat once a year and be done with it.
...

Me too, the trick is to find that something.

 

[getaclue]

A bit of research regarding Pyrethrin vs Permethrin is why I tend to choose Pyrethrin to spray. When used responsibly, it's slightly safer, and is approved for organic farming. This should work for you. https://www.amazon.com/Bonide-Produ...Pyrethrin&qid=1607315066&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-2

I didn't really see any Pyrethrin dust on Amazon this time, but they do have this: https://www.amazon.com/Voluntary-Pu...hrin+dust&qid=1607315696&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-3

 

[Ted Brown]

@getaclue

Thanks, I had not recognized that two such similar products were available.

1. Difficult to find references regarding which of the two ( Pyrethrin vs Permethrin) kills mites most effectively (I found nothing).
2. Information regarding their differences is easy to find and clear.
3. Neither is easily available in Canada unless one involves a Vet.

 

[JCaseyHammond]

Hello, do you have fireplace wood ash or diatomaceous earth handy? I had a hen get thick clusters of tiny dark bugs on her vent feathers, so I laid her over my knee and clipped off all the infested feathers into a bucket of soapy water taking care not to get her wet. Then I patted handfuls of wood ash on her bottom. Seems to have got rid of the bugs. I’m allergic to permethrin so can’t use that.

 

[getaclue]

The

@getaclue

Thanks, I had not recognized that two such similar products were available.

1. Difficult to find references regarding which of the two ( Pyrethrin vs Permethrin) kills mites most effectively (I found nothing).
2. Information regarding their differences is easy to find and clear.
3. Neither is easily available in Canada unless one involves a Vet.

They both work the same, but Pyrethrin breaks down more readily. Wood ash has been used for years, and works, but is very alkaline, and hard on their skin. I'd mix it with dirt, and let them dusbathe in it instead of applying the wood ash directly to the chicken. You can rub a bit of it on the roosts as well. As to DE, it may work some as a preventative, but does not work very well under infestation conditions. There are also serious risks to the lungs, for a product that doesn't do very well under infestation conditions.

 

[Ted Brown]

I have two dust baths that contain sand, stove ash and, now, sulphur.

 

[JCaseyHammond]

I had to deal with sticktight fleas on the faces of my chickens brought in by rats and ground squirrels. What worked was lots of wood ash and DE dumped on the coop floor under the roosts, with one drop per bird of Frontline for Cats applied to the skin of each bird’s back of the neck. The hen that had the butt feather mites needed two applications of wood ash to her skin. All better now

 

[Ted Brown]

...
What worked was lots of wood ash and DE dumped on the coop floor under the roosts, with one drop per bird of Frontline for Cats applied to the skin of each bird’s back of the neck.

...

@roosterhavoc also mentioned Frontline (Posts 53-63 above) as an effective treatment.