Mite question

[llandry]

I've searched the forum for some info on mites. Most threads I'm seeing describe black or red mites. I think i have something different. Maybe a type of lice?

These are so incredibly tiny and look mostly like dust. Grayish in color and if I look closely I think they're moving. Not 100% sure because they're was a slight breeze but I think i saw movement.

I put some DE around the run and in the coop. Any other suggestion?

 

[Chulagirl]

I've searched the forum for some info on mites. Most threads I'm seeing describe black or red mites. I think i have something different. Maybe a type of lice?

These are so incredibly tiny and look mostly like dust. Grayish in color and if I look closely I think they're moving. Not 100% sure because they're was a slight breeze but I think i saw movement.

I put some DE around the run and in the coop. Any other suggestion?

When my old chicken had tiny mites, I dusted her with food grade diatomaceous earth all over, including under the wings. Had to repeat the treatment after 2 weeks but that did the trick. Good luck!

 

[Isaac 0]

Are they too tiny to wet down a cotton swab with, pick a few of them up, and post a picture?

There are several different kinds of mites, ranging in colors from gray to red. Lice tend to be a more yellow color. Some mites will appear gray if they haven't fed for a while.

Regardless of what they are, I would go to your nearest feed store and pick up either a Premetrin spray, or poultry dust. The dust can be applied directly, but the spray will have to be diluted down with water (per the directions on the bottle).

Spray/dust each bird thoroughly focusing near the vent, and under the wings. Clean the coop, preferably burn the bedding, and dust/spray all the cracks and roosts inside the coop. The whole process will need to be redone in a week since the treatment won't kill the eggs.

DE is not effective for treating ectoparasites in poultry.

 

[Peoples]

When my old chicken had tiny mites, I dusted her with food grade diatomaceous earth all over, including under the wings. Had to repeat the treatment after 2 weeks but that did the trick. Good luck!

Excellent advice. I took a pillow case and put thr DE in it and put my girls in with necks and heads out secured around the neck and rubbed the DE in what I called a spa day. Can Google you tube videos on how to. In addition I changed the bedding once a week with new bedding and sprinkled the DE in coop before adding fresh bedding and i also sprayed the coop with poultry protector. This worked. Takes time and patience.

 

[llandry]

Thank you!!!!

 

[cmom]

DE didn't touch the pests when I had them. I bought permethrin at TSC. I sprayed the coops thoroughly every crack and crevice, everywhere. It took 3 or 4 weekly applications because It does not kill the pests eggs but will as they hatch out. There is no egg withdrawal period. It works.

 

[llandry]

I'm assuming this is safe for the chickens to be in the coop and run as it dries or do i need to pen them up somewhere else until the area is thoroughly dry?