Mites on Broody Hen

[phryan]

While checking on one of my Broody Hens I discovered her eggs were covered in mites. I dusted her with a bit of Sevin dust, sprinkled the nest with DE, and set up a shallow tub in the coop with sand (thinking maybe the proximity would allow her to 'bath' more). She had been on the eggs for only 7 days. Would the mites present a direct threat to the eggs, should I swap for new eggs? Regarding the hen can I feed her anything special to help her recover from the mites (beef, something high in iron)?

 

[CarpCharacin]

I don't think the mites would pose a direct threat to the eggs. I'd just feed the regular chicken food, along with maybe some fresh vegetables.

 

[featheredplanets]

Are they mites or lice? Lice live on the bird and are easy to take control of, they also only eat skin flakes and feather dander. Mites, however, live in the coop, in the nest boxes (in any cracks, crevices in a coop) and will come out to feed on the birds at night, but they will also feed on birds in the nest (feed as in, drinking blood, like small vampires).

If the eggs are covered in them, you have a pretty bad infestation. I read on here the best way to treat them is with permethrin. The eggs won’t be affected, but the chicks will, so it’s important to get the critters under control.

I found this, which may be helpful: https://www.backyardchickencoops.co...be-time-to-check-your-chooks-for-biting-pests