Mites!! - is there anything at all I can do?

[dretd]

Quote:
Gosh, your location may make it harder to get meds commonly available in the US so our recommendations might be off for you. Carbaryl (5% Seven Dust) is a common garden insecticide powder that can be used to rid chickens of mites but I think was banned over in Europe a few years ago. You can get DE in a puffer that you can dust the chickens with. Its pretty safe stuff but folks that use it I think recommend to get the food-grade version. Here is one UK organic-approved dust that may be DE-it doesn't list the ingredients so maybe you can locate a bottle and see for yourself: http://www.chicken-house.co.uk/acatalog/Barrier_Red_Mite_Powder_500g.html#a231

As mentioned before, pay special attention to the housing. The mite spends a great deal of time off the chicken so just doing the bird is only a part of the puzzle. Personally I use a horse fly spray with pyrethroids (all of this stuff is permutations off of the oridinal pyrethrin from crysanthemums) because thats what I have on hand, for the chicken house. Its possible pyrethrin-type insectacides may only be available through a vet. I googeled Amazon in the uk and found only a few hits for permethrin, here's one for fabric that might work on the hen house but it might need to be diluted: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Lifesystems...?s=pet-supplies&ie=UTF8&qid=1315066513&sr=1-1 and I found this as a pyrethrin powder for use in the hen house http://www.battles.co.uk/products/0...oultry/-/-/3251/battles-poultry-louse-powder/ I suspect if you poke around, you can find more info. Personally, I would ring up your vet and get their advice. As much as folks complain about over-regulation in the states, I think you all are much more restricted in what you can purchase over the counter for treatments and pest control.

To help check on you eradication progress, you can take a few sheets of white paper and put it on or about the nest boxes. The mites will hang out on the underside of the paper and it will make it easier to check in the mornings for more mites.

As an aside, I am highly sensitive to the mites and get itchy bumps that last for days if I get a mite on me. If you are reactive, wear protective cloths and shower down immediately after you clean out the house or you may find yourself pretty miserable for a few days.

 

[clairemcc1]

Hi dretd, thats for all your information. As you say, I am going to check with the vet on Monday see what is best to do with whats availble in the UK. The mites are wild hard to get rid of - ive read and tried all sorts but nothing seems to have worked to date.

thanks again,
Claire

 

[dretd]

Quote:
Good luck to you! I think its not so much you can't get rid of them--I was able to knock down my infestation pretty quickly this summer ( Didn't even know I had a problem until I picked up my broody and had itchy bumps the next day). Rather I think that where ever the mites came from to begin with will re-infest the chickens on an ongoing basis. For me, we have wild sparrows that come into the run via the 4 inch mesh topper on the run and I am sure they are the source. So I can kill the mites that are there, but unless I keep the birds isolated they will be a continual vector for re-contamination.

 

[missy d]

How do you know if your chickens have mites or lice? I have a small flock of 8 hens and a rooster, they have some feather lose but I was thinking it was from the rooster. It is only around their head or shoulder area. they don't seem to do to much pick at themselves or each other. The only big problem I have been having is with the flys. I hate the fly strips and bags. Do you know of any insect sprays that would be safe around the chickens and the eggs? We do eat and sell eggs to friends.