Mites, and treatment

[Willy56]

I live in southern Ontario, we have a lot of wild birds and squirrels around here. I have just noticed our chickens are picking under they’re wings and around vents. I believe it is mites, I have cleaned out coop and spread DE all around. I don’t want to use DE on they’re bodies. I was thinking of using garlic juice and water and spraying them but I’m concerned about the temperature. It is only 28farenhieght today. Is it to cold to spray them? Coop not heated. Any other suggestions.

 

[azygous]

First, examine a few chickens that appear to be scratching. While mites may not be readily apparent, you will easily see lice crawling around the vent area. To determine mites, look closely at the skin for redness and scabs from bites. Acute mite infestations cause anemia, so if combs are paler than they ought to be, that points to the possibility of mites. To confirm mites, run a damp paper towel over the roosts at night. You should see red smears if mites are present.

Spraying for mites and lice doesn't mean drenching the chicken. You can choose a sunny day with no wind and spray the skin around the vents and under the winds and around the neck, avoiding feathers as much as possible. Let the chickens sun dry or blow dry them unless you have an impossible number.

You will need to spray the coop if mites are present. Again, choose a period where the weather isn't going to be in a deep freeze so the coop can dry out and not present a damp condition that promotes frostbite. It's pricey but very effective. No need to spray the coop for just lice as lice live their life cycle on the chickens.

 

[Willy56]

First, examine a few chickens that appear to be scratching. While mites may not be readily apparent, you will easily see lice crawling around the vent area. To determine mites, look closely at the skin for redness and scabs from bites. Acute mite infestations cause anemia, so if combs are paler than they ought to be, that points to the possibility of mites. To confirm mites, run a damp paper towel over the roosts at night. You should see red smears if mites are present.

Spraying for mites and lice doesn't mean drenching the chicken. You can choose a sunny day with no wind and spray the skin around the vents and under the winds and around the neck, avoiding feathers as much as possible. Let the chickens sun dry or blow dry them unless you have an impossible number.

You will need to spray the coop if mites are present. Again, choose a period where the weather isn't going to be in a deep freeze so the coop can dry out and not present a damp condition that promotes frostbite. It's pricey but very effective. No need to spray the coop for just lice as lice live their life cycle on the chickens.

Ok, thanks. Only have 5 so not a big job. I understand that I have to spray them every day for a week or so if I use garlic. I can also use DE on them but would prefer not to, any suggestions as to a different treatment than these two. They are picking at themselves more often every day, they also free range every day.

 

[azygous]

Any treatment other than spinosad (Elector) or permethrin won't work to rid the chickens of these pests and is a waste of time. Elector which is spinosad may be very pricey, but it's highly concentrated and a fourth of a cup makes a gallon of solution that will cover the chickens as well as the coop. Permethrin is much cheaper, but isn't as economical and requires additional sprayings to get eggs that have hatched. Spinosad will treat eggs and I've never needed to do any followup spraying with it. My 8 ounce bottle has lasted five years already. It also works to get rid of scaly leg mites.

Both insecticides are effective and safe for chickens, being natural substances working biologically rather than as poison agents.

 

[Willy56]

Any treatment other than spinosad (Elector) or permethrin won't work to rid the chickens of these pests and is a waste of time. Elector which is spinosad may be very pricey, but it's highly concentrated and a fourth of a cup makes a gallon of solution that will cover the chickens as well as the coop. Permethrin is much cheaper, but isn't as economical and requires additional sprayings to get eggs that have hatched. Spinosad will treat eggs and I've never needed to do any followup spraying with it. My 8 ounce bottle has lasted five years already. It also works to get rid of scaly leg mites.

Both insecticides are effective and safe for chickens, being natural substances working biologically rather than as poison agents.

Ok, thanks for your reply, I’ll look into that Spinosad.

 

[cmom]

I use permethrin. Check the birds over. Some mites only come out at night and feed on the birds so I use a headlamp so I have my hands free and inspect them after they roost. Most poultry dust has permethrin in it. I have never had any luck with DE though some people swear by it. Spinosad (Elector PSP) and permethrin both work well. Elector is much more expensive.
You can dust the birds with the poultry dust. I also put it in their nest boxes. These products all have permethrin in them, works very well and much cheaper. As @azygous said they are "effective and safe for chickens, being natural substances working biologically rather than as poison agents." There is no egg withdrawal period. Good luck...

 

[Willy56]

damp

I use permethrin. Check the birds over. Some mites only come out at night and feed on the birds so I use a headlamp so I have my hands free and inspect them after they roost. Most poultry dust has permethrin in it. I have never had any luck with DE though some people swear by it. Spinosad (Elector PSP) and permethrin both work well. Elector is much more expensive.
You can dust the birds with the poultry dust. I also put it in their nest boxes. These products all have permethrin in them, works very well and much cheaper. As @azygous said they are "effective and safe for chickens, being natural substances working biologically rather than as poison agents." There is no egg withdrawal period. Good luck...

Ok, thanks. I am still trying to determine what it is, lice or northern fowl mites that actually live on the birds, as they are picking under they’re wings throughout the day while free ranging. It is very cold up here right now, 23 degrees, so I’m a little hesitant in spraying them. I understand that invectormin can be applied with one drop at back of neck, but there is a withdrawal time. I use DE in coop and boxes at every cleaning. I have a feeling these pests are living on the chickens.