Mites follow up

[Homesteadermomma6382]

Treated all my chickens, their coops, the nesting boxes for mites yesterday. How can I tell if the treatment worked? I felt really horrible. All the birds were tore up by those darn bugs and I never even saw it. They hid it fairly well. Even the ones that looked perfectly fine as red sore vents. Makes ya feel like a bad mamma

 

[Perris]

don't beat yourself up; chickens are very good at hiding problems until they're really bad.
You'll need to retreat in a week or so to get the ones that hatch during the week (most treatments cannot kills the eggs, only the mites or lice) and before they can reproduce.

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

don't beat yourself up; chickens are very good at hiding problems until they're really bad.
You'll need to retreat in a week or so to get the ones that hatch during the week (most treatments cannot kills the eggs, only the mites or lice) and before they can reproduce.

But how will I know if the first dose killed all the mites this time? Should I try to give them all baths? I have 20 chickens but if that's what they need I will do it. I used permethrin on them yesterday. Sprayed below vents and under wings.

 

[Perris]

have they got a dust bath available? If so, they'll do a pretty good job themselves

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

Yes they have a huge area where they do their dust bathing. Should I put some DE in the area? Ive had chickens for years and never had this problem before so I'm feeling very much like a noon right now lol

have they got a dust bath available? If so, they'll do a pretty good job themselves

 

[rosemarythyme]

But how will I know if the first dose killed all the mites this time?

Give it a day or so and re-inspect them - whatever birds and locations you spotted the mites before. If the treatment worked, there should be no active movement. Permethrin works very fast when it's effective.

 

[aart]

I'm curious did you ever see the mites?:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/mites.1393997/

Treated all my chickens, their coops, the nesting boxes for mites yesterday. How can I tell if the treatment worked?

What did you treat with?

Do you know if you they are/were roost mites or poultry mites?
If roost mites, check well after dark.
Good post about mite ID by Lady McCamley:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/my-chicken-has-mites-now-what.1273674/page-2#post-20483008

Give it a day or so and re-inspect them - whatever birds and locations you spotted the mites before. If the treatment worked, there should be no active movement. Permethrin works very fast when it's effective.

Yes, this^^^.
Check every couple days, then I'd treat again in 7 days regardless of if you see any.

 

[cmom]

But how will I know if the first dose killed all the mites this time? Should I try to give them all baths? I have 20 chickens but if that's what they need I will do it. I used permethrin on them yesterday. Sprayed below vents and under wings.

It will take a little while for the birds to recover. Make sure you retreat weekly for 3/4 weeks and thoroughly treat their coop, everywhere, every crack and crevice.

Yes they have a huge area where they do their dust bathing. Should I put some DE in the area? Ive had chickens for years and never had this problem before so I'm feeling very much like a noon right now lol

I wouldn't waste my time with DE. I tried it and my birds were still covered with mites. I used poultry dust in the areas they like to dust bathe. You can also spray the area they like to dust bathe in. Good luck...
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/mites.1381506/post-22699554

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

Just checked some butts. Healthy pink not flaming red!!! So happy

 

[Homesteadermomma6382]

One of my roosters vents is still very dry and cracking. Also his legs seem dry as well. Is there something I can use to sooth and moisturize? Olive oil in the diet? Seems this year is my year for chicken problems. Chicken keeping used to be easy.....