Mites in Broody Coop

[mishka brownley]

My broodies are in their own coop, alongside the main coop. We're four days out from hatch. I noticed an explosion of mites in the main coop and run a couple of days ago . I have no idea where they all came from, but I've dusted everyone with permethrin dust and sprayed everything down with permethrin spray and treated everyone with ivermectin pour on.

The broodies were dusted too and dosed with ivermectin. I didn't spray inside their coop, obviously, but I did dust the nests.

What do I do if there are still mites in the coop when the babies hatch next week? Can I treat them with anything?

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Mites could kill babies, so it would be a very good idea to treat the housing before they hatch.
Mites mostly hide during the day only to come out and feed at night, so if possible, clean up the bedding and spray the housing they will be in.

If the chicks do get mites on them, then I'd dust them with permethrin.

 

[BDutch]

Sorry to hear this. Hope it will work out one way or another.

Two things you can do imho:

1. Buy immediately a prefab and move the broodies to the new coop. But chances are not small the broodies wil reject the new coop.
2. Buy an incubator and everything else you need for chicks. If the broodies reject the new nest you have to buy these stuff anyway. If you live near to a supplier you could try to move the broodies during shopping. But chances are bigger if you move them in the night.

 

[mishka brownley]

I actually have a third coop that I will move them to, so I can treat the coop they've been in and cross my fingers that they don't abandon the eggs. I have an incubator as backup too, but I'm not well set up to brood this many chicks - I really prefer to have the hens raise them. I guess I don't have an option at this point

 

[BDutch]

Good luck.

 

[Shadrach]

My broodies are in their own coop, alongside the main coop. We're four days out from hatch. I noticed an explosion of mites in the main coop and run a couple of days ago . I have no idea where they all came from, but I've dusted everyone with permethrin dust and sprayed everything down with permethrin spray and treated everyone with ivermectin pour on.

The broodies were dusted too and dosed with ivermectin. I didn't spray inside their coop, obviously, but I did dust the nests.

What do I do if there are still mites in the coop when the babies hatch next week? Can I treat them with anything?

What sort of mited are they?
What bedding are you using in the broody coop?
Are the broody hens getting off the nest and outside to bathe, poop and eat?

 

[mishka brownley]

Red mites. I'm using pine shavings.

 

[BDutch]

When I clean out the nest box completely and make new bedding , I put a layer of sand mixed with a little diatomaceous earth underneath the shavings/hay.
The effect of DE is that it kills the larvae of the red mites. Not the adult red mites or the red mite eggs.
Maybe it helps to keep the red mite out if you move the hens/eggs to the third coop.

Please keep us updated.

 

[Shadrach]

Don't put DE in a broody coop!
If you are sure you have red mites then that's a coop problem, not a bird problem. A sever red mite problem takes many treatments to sort out. Some keepers find it is easier in the long run to burn the coop and start again. Of course, a lot depends on the size and type of coop you have.

 

[BDutch]

Don't put DE in a broody coop!
If you are sure you have red mites then that's a coop problem, not a bird problem. A sever red mite problem takes many treatments to sort out. Some keepers find it is easier in the long run to burn the coop and start again. Of course, a lot depends on the size and type of coop you have.

I think this - not use DE- is typical something that everyone is repeating without experience. I never had any problems with DE mixed with a lot of sand. I also make a ‘paint’ with it , to treat the walls and cracks. I use it for many years now, to prevent a red mite infestation. Even chicks have no problem with it when administered very carefully in sand under the bedding.
I never had problems with mite after using DE while sparrows and such fly in an out the run. Many chicken keepers in my country have problems with red mite. And some even buy plastic coops because they think its a better solution.