Mites can someone help?

[captainmommy3]

Hi, I have a small flock of back yard chickens and I believe they have.mites. my question is can I put seven dust down? I have a mama with 4 new 5 day old chicks is this safe or is there any alternative because they have been picking themselves a lot and I need to get rid of the mites before the babies become infested too.

 

[Judy]

Sevin 5% garden dust recommended, but you'll have to do more than put it in the coop. You need to dust the birds and change the litter, then you need to repeat this in 10 days to kill hatched eggs. You may want to get some Sevin liquid as well, to "paint" on places like rough surfaces and the undersides of roosts. Dust by putting them in a paper bag up to their neck with the Sevin and shake gently, or make a sort of powder puff out of an old stocking. You can also use a permethrin/pyrethrin dust or spray, usually available in the feed store as "poultry dust," or even Adams' flea and tick spray.

http://ohioline.osu.edu/vme-fact/0018.html

 

[captainmommy3]

OK thanks! And that's completely safe for chicks?

 

[Judy]

I don't know about completely safe -- but a heavy enough infestation can kill them, so.... I don't know of any other treatment that actually works, omce there is an infestation.

 

[captainmommy3]

I don't think the are full blown infested I cant see anything on their skin or under their feathers I just wanna take care of it before it gets that bad. Can I put red scarlet on the roosts it says it kills mites. And I have poultry powder I put on the one who was picking the most and she seems like she's not itchy for right now I just put it on her and fluffed it around tuner her wings and buy her tail.