Mite Infestation Again..Help!

[kperki]

We seem to keep getting mites! It is so frustrating! I am trying to figure out where they are coming from. My girls free range during the day and sleep inside a wooden painted coop at night with sand floor, shavings in nesting boxes. My last treatment was with Elector PSP and ivermectin pour on. Everyone seemed to be doing well so I was happy the Elector must have done the job as it has been a continuous problem. I have treated with Sevin,Gordon’s Prematherin, hi yield garden dust, Eprinex also stripping and treating coop each time. Tonight I treated with the latter two as I was worried about the cold and the Elector spray getting them wet. I was shocked when I picked up a hen that seemed week and tired and it was as if she had an anthill on her above her vent. I could not believe it. Several hens had it that bad and just about all had some except the hens that really do not get mated. So that made me think are the roosters getting it somewhere and spreading to the hens. The roosters sleep in separate large plastic dog kennels with shavings at night. I thought since the kennels are plastic they would not be in there. Thecoop also has been cleaned as sprayed as well. The girls hang out under a large long rose bush. There are some wild birds around but not a lot. We love our girls, they are spoiled and it really upsets me to see them miserable like this. Anyone have any ideas of where these are coming from? Or what else I can do? I plan on in 10 days warmin up the coop and spraying them with Elector psp and maybe another pour on. Any ideas plz let me know.
Also has anyone used a mite predator if there is one? We used fly predators before and I’m desperate and willing to try anything to stop this once and for all!
Thanks!

 

[SunshineGal]

This is what I use on the ground, shelves, in their food and in the egg laying crates:

Diatomaceous earth kills all bugs. It has been reported to be the most effective solution when fighting pests like fleas, ants and bed bugs. Farmers dump food grade diatomaceous earth by big scoops in with grains when the grains are stored. It kills the insects that want to feast on the grain.

Google this and read about all the benefits - you'll be surprised!

I use white vinegar to disinfect too....

 

[kperki]

Thank you but I prefer not to use DE. I have read that it can cause respiratory problems as well as not being good for bees and I have several bee hives.

 

[SunshineGal]

Oh, okay. I understand. I had not read that about the DE. I use a mask when I spread it because I read that was a requirement because of respiratory issues.
Thank you!

 

[SunshineGal]

Have you tried the white vinegar? I just used it last week to clean my coop. Better than bleach. Bleach is too strong for me...

 

[Redhead Rae]

@Texas Kiki @staceyj

 

[Kiki]

Permethrin is my favorite.

Exactly how much Elector are you mixing with the water?
You must treat both the birds and coop WEEKLY for at least 3 weeks to knock the mites cycle down.
Are you doing this?
DE is worthless, don't bother wasting your time or money on it.

 

[Kiki]

Also...do you happen to have a rat problem?
Or a lot of wild birds visiting?

 

[staceyj]

You said you use sand in your coop.

After you’ve cleaned it, what did you do with the “contaminated” sand?

And where is your “new” sand coming from?

New as in from a store, brought it home in bags?

...Or new as in, from a sand pile somewhere on your property, part of an original “bulk” delivery?

 

[PirateGirl]

The mites are somewhere in your environment, you may never know the original source. I think retreating ALL birds, whether showing symptoms or not, and cleaning ALL coops, and replacing ALL bedding every 7-10 days for at least 3 cycles is important. There will be eggs of your mites that will hatch in the future and you have to break the lifecycle, which is why it's important to repeat every 7-10 days. A week after the third cycle, if you see any sign of the mites, repeat it all again, if there is no sign of them after the third cycle you should be able to stop.

Follow @Texas Kiki 's instructions. She helped me out when I had a mite infestation and it cleared up and they never returned! I have not looked at the elector ingredients, but liquid permetherin (appropriately diluted with water) in a spray bottle worked wonders for my flock. The spray makes it easy to get it in the cracks and nooks and crannies of your coop where mites like to hide. I just lightly misted the birds' butt fluff and backs after they went to roost at night. This all seemed much easier than a dust treatment.