Mites in new store bought pine shavings?

[AinaWGSD]

Mites in store bought bedding is very unlikely to have mites. TSC pine shavings are usually kiln dried, which would kill any mites in the wood.

 

[Bawkbok]

I presume it's ok for them to eat wood shavings - our girls seek out the decaying lumber in the yard and regularly eat the small shavings from inside the logs. I guess it's a form of grit. They also eat soil - ours is sand. With the dead grass and weeds and no bugs, there's not much else - natural roughage I guess; better than store bought grit although they have access to that all the time. Thus far, no crop issues. My concern is the wood shavings turning into a nasty clump in their crop but it hasn't happened yet.

 

[H4mm3r]

I used to use straw in my bedding. But 3 days ago I switched to pine shavings from tractor supply and another local feed store. Now my 5 week old chicks are constant scratching since changing that bedding. Has anyone ever had mites or lice in a new bale of pine shavings bag?!

They're in my garage so not on the outside ground. I just don't see how else they would have gotten so itchy. I check their bodies but don't see much, but I'm new to this and don't really know what I'm looking for!

I know I am commenting a year and a half later but I did not have mites… however, I recently bought some shavings from tractor supply. I added it to the nesting boxes. Now there are mites crawling on the eggs from the shavings. They are definitely mites.

 

[SourRoses]

I know I am commenting a year and a half later but I did not have mites… however, I recently bought some shavings from tractor supply. I added it to the nesting boxes. Now there are mites crawling on the eggs from the shavings. They are definitely mites.

I believe you!
I had chicks get lice from shavings a couple years ago.
The brooder was inside, a clean new tote. I noticed the tiny white bugs, and chicks scratching, for the first time after adding shavings from the brand new bag.
So my theory at the time was the shavings became contaminated after the kiln drying but before being bagged. Maybe with only eggs which can wait on hold for quite a while until conditions are right to hatch.
I was worried whether it would be safe to treat one week olds, so I made them a new tote with fresh shavings, and kept switching it out every day for a week. The chicks groomed themselves madly and handled most of it. Then I treated them later. Now that I use Elector PSP I feel a lot safer treating any age because it's naturally derived (from a bacteria).

 

[Capecodkells]

I know I am commenting a year and a half later but I did not have mites… however, I recently bought some shavings from tractor supply. I added it to the nesting boxes. Now there are mites crawling on the eggs from the shavings. They are definitely

I know I am commenting a year and a half later but I did not have mites… however, I recently bought some shavings from tractor supply. I added it to the nesting boxes. Now there are mites crawling on the eggs from the shavings. They are definitely mites.

Hi. I’ve been battling mites (I don’t know which kind) since August. I know one form is scaly leg mites. I’ve been treating these for months. I am down to 3 chickens. I lost one to anemia from the mites. I’m struggling so badly !! Please help! It is now January. My poor chickens have been suffering since God only knows when. I’m new to this and just caught on in August when I lost my favorite. I have been scouring the coop every 7 days. Bathing chickens. Dusting chickens. Using permethrin, de, sulfur, elector psp, epsom salts, soaking, praying… the only common denominator is the tractor supply shavings I use every time! I really think the shavings are contaminated! Any suggestions? I’ve used hemp. Much better….until I spread tsc shavings for my girls to walk in the snow….now in 23 degrees I am dealing with yet another full blown infestation. Night before last I brought them in, dipped them in elector psp and kept them in a portacrib all night to completely dry before going back out. Last night I went in ready to celebrate a victory and they were scratching AGAIN!!! I checked their bums…MITES again. Please help me. I feel like I’m torturing my chickens. Haven’t had one egg since November. Their combs are pale. I’m going to the local feed store to get new shavings and it’s supposed to be 12 degrees tonight. So I’ll dip them and keep them inside again. Please. Help. Someone! This is killing me and my chickens. I believe with all my heart the shavings are contaminated. all that suffering for my chicks and work for me.

 

[Bawkbok]

the only common denominator is the tractor supply shavings I use every time! I really think the shavings are contaminated! Any suggestions? I’ve used hemp. Much better….until I spread tsc shavings for my girls to walk in the snow….now in 23 degrees I am dealing with yet another full blown infestation.

I have never had to deal with mites so I don't have any advice to offer there. Others with more experience will be along to offer advice.
I would take pictures and go to TSC to show them and get a refund at least. Then, I would never get bedding from them again.
We order our bedding online and have never had a problem. We also use Hemp in the nest boxes - it's worth the extra money - along with pine shavings (triple cleaned) in the poop trays and mixed in with the hemp. Never had a problem with any bugs. From Amazon and Chewy. Saves trips to the store and time is precious.
TSC has never impressed me as the store is always filthy, there is a pile of opened bags of both chicken feed and dog food piled up in the back of the store - feed is spilling out onto the floor. I suspect they have a mice and rat problem as a result. I quit going there when I saw the pile of opened bags of feed.

 

[Capecodkells]

Thank you for responding so quickly. I will look for the triple washed shavings. I’ll never use TSC again for anything. I found out it’s not made/ sourced in USA. I’ll go local and support the small businesses unless not available. I’m exhausted. Dips and a sleepover for me and my girls tonight. . Probably a good thing anyway. It’s going to single digits here. That never happens. Ugh. Thanks again.

 

[debid]

The bales are typically stored in stacks outside at TSC. They also have wild birds nesting and roosting overnight. It's entirely possible for mite contamination to happen after the product arrives at the store.

I get my shavings at the local co-op where bales are stored indoors like the feed and I have not experienced this issue. Pyrethrin is supposed to be effective and reasonably safe. It won't kill their eggs so you have to apply at least twice. I'd mist the whole coop. Good luck!

BTW, I had mites in my kitchen once. Hubs had tossed a fallen nest he'd found into the kitchen trash and it was thoroughly infested. I was so mad! They're nasty things, it took multiple wipe downs to get them all.

 

[Capecodkells]

The bales are typically stored in stacks outside at TSC. They also have wild birds nesting and roosting overnight. It's entirely possible for mite contamination to happen after the product arrives at the store.

I get my shavings at the local co-op where bales are stored indoors like the feed and I have not experienced this issue. Pyrethrin is supposed to be effective and reasonably safe. It won't kill their eggs so you have to apply at least twice. I'd mist the whole coop. Good luck!

BTW, I had mites in my kitchen once. Hubs had tossed a fallen nest he'd found into the kitchen trash and it was thoroughly infested. I was so mad! They're nasty things, it took multiple wipe downs to get them all.

Thank you!

 

[FunClucks]

For anyone still wondering, yes, the chickens eat the TSC pine shavings just fine, and they get ground up in their gizzards. I don't know why they eat wood, but it goes through their system fine usually as long as they have enough grit (with correct type of rocks and correct size).

Meat bird discussion below:

I have a flock of meat birds, and I harvest the gizzards, and they often have some type of pine shavings in there along with the food and grit. It's kind of interesting - you can see pieces of grit of different ages - the sharp parts wear down over time as the grit grinds up the food and other materials present.