Mite problem

[Alyssamary3]

So I have a young hen, Brownie, who had not been acting like her usual spunky self for the past 4 weeks. She was lethargic and keeping to herself. Almost 2 weeks ago, I went to close up the coop, and she was sleeping on the ground and looking just awful. I brought her in the house, not knowing what else to do. The next morning, I woke up to a surprise. My entire laundry room was COVERED in mites. It was horrifying. Clearly they were killing poor Brownie. I’ve been dusting her in DE, Poultry and Garden Dust with permethrin, and giving her baths with apple cider vinegar in the water (she is not thrilled about this). She’s still in the house, and I’m still battling a ridiculous amount of mites. Brownie is doing much better, eating well, and had her energy back, but still so many mites. What else can I do? I have ivermectin paste coming in tomorrow. Another odd thing, we have a flock of 15 hens. I cannot find a single mite on any other chicken. I still cleaned out the coop, burned everything, and put DE all over the new bedding. Anyone have any ideas that can help?

 

[Alyssamary3]

Multiple times per day, I brush the mites off of her into the laundry tub, and next time I look at her, she looks like this again.

 

[nuthatched]

Don't bathe her anymore , it's very stress full.
DE is ineffective for pests, stick with the garden dust.
Can you get any permethrine spray? try to cover the area she's in with tape sticky side up to help corral them.

 

[Folly's place]

I agree, bathing is too traumatic, she's already debilitated and doesn't need the extra stress.
Permethrin spray is easier to use, as long as it's not too cold, otherwise use the dust, and do treat all your birds! There's no way only one is involved in this infestation!
Mites in the house? Ugh! Spray everywhere with something you are willing to have in the house. Remember that permethrin is toxic for cats at low doses, and many/ most other house pets. Fish, reptiles, whoever, make sure your aren't causing unintended harm with your necessary insect treatment.
All the best getting through this miserable experience.
Mary

 

[Alyssamary3]

Thank you both for your advice! I’m hesitant to keep using the permethrin after I dust her with it, Brownie continuously twitches her head for about three days I think she’s having a hard time tolerating it and it’s causing neurological symptoms. Have you ever used ivermectin?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

My entire laundry room was COVERED in mites.

I’ve been dusting her in DE, Poultry and Garden Dust with permethrin, and giving her baths with apple cider vinegar in the water (she is not thrilled about this). She’s still in the house, and I’m still battling a ridiculous amount of mites. Brownie is doing much better, eating well, and had her energy back, but still so many mites. What else can I do? I have ivermectin paste coming in tomorrow.

Multiple times per day, I brush the mites off of her into the laundry tub, and next time I look at her, she looks like this again

I’m hesitant to keep using the permethrin after I dust her with it, Brownie continuously twitches her head for about three days I think she’s having a hard time tolerating it and it’s causing neurological symptoms. Have you ever used ivermectin?

See @rosemarythyme post quoted below for some tips on dealing with Mites in the house.

The twitching of the head, *possibly* neurological, but Mites will also go in the ears and eyes, so the head twitching may be just Mites moving about.

Since the laundry room is covered in Mites along with her, you're going to have a battle on your hands for a while. Make sure to work the Permethrin dust all the way through the feathers to the skin. I put the dust in a sock and use it like a powder puff to get a nice fine dust going, then slowly move the feathers around and bop a bit more powder, wear gloves and work the dust through those feathers.

To answer your question, you *can* use Ivermectin to treat Mites. But remember the medication is systemic, so the Mites have to bite (have a blood meal) in order for the Ivermectin to be effective, this means she'll have to be bitten over and over. If she's in a weakened state, it may be better to continue with the Permethrin to eliminate what you can, then consider the Ivermectin once she's improving.

Mites can make them very sick, anemic or kill them so I'd see that she's eating a nutritionally balanced poultry feed and also give her either some egg daily or a little beef liver for a boost. If you have poultry vitamins like Poultry Cell, give her a direct oral dose 3 times a week for a good boost too. (Poultry Cell direct oral dose is 1cc per 3pounds of weight).

I've given you dosing for Ivermectin Paste (1.87%) below. Make sure that's what you have and it doesn't contain another accompanying medication like Praziquantel. If you're not sure, then post a photo of the product you have.

I'll address the "mites in the house" issue - for ones in the barn, I'd suggest looking into elemental sulfur but it's not a quick acting solution, more of a long term maintenance plan.

If mite bites on you are an issue, or mites are getting into the house:

While treating the chickens I suggest keeping a dedicated set of chicken-only clothes, gloves, boots, etc. either in garage or shed, somewhere out of the house, and only use those around the chickens until treatment is done. Before going back into the house, check arms and legs carefully for any mites.

I also got some permethrin spray for use in the house, and sprayed all our muck boots, as well as hubby's office chair and the sofa.

Launder everything you've worn recently in hot water + hot dry. Launder your sheets as well. Even things like pillows... let them tumble in the dryer on high for at least 30 min. I even threw jackets in the dryer. If you happen to have rubbing alcohol, my pest guy suggested spraying the mattress as well. Rubbing alcohol has been further confirmed to work by other folks on BYC.

Continue vacuuming daily for a couple of days and make sure to empty out the vacuum/remove bags when done.

I know it seems like overkill but if you can get it under control with the chickens, the ones in the house should get eliminated/under control in the same time frame as long as you don't drag more in. Best of luck!

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/mite-infestation-starting-new-post.1630760/post-27847239

The regular 1.87% ivermectin paste I would use for lice and mites is 0.024 ml per pound orally. The dose I use is 1 mg per kg.

Math:
1 pound - 1 / 2.2 x 1 / 18.7 = 0.024 ml per pound orally.

Replace the the first 1 in the equation with the weight of your bird and that's your dose.

Do not dilute it.
Do not apply it topically, give it orally.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/equimax-1-87-paste-question.1607049/post-27381467

 

[StinkyAcres]

I would dust all the other chickens with the permethrin dust even though you haven't seen mites on them. DE is not good for their respiratory systems. Do your chickens currently have access to a dust bath?

Keep in mind that Brownie likely has the mites because she was sick. Mites take advantage of sick birds and, of course, make them even more sick.