Mites?? What do I do?

[Rick&Chris]

Freaking out! First time I’ve seen bugs crawling all over the eggs. Mites? What Treatment for coop & birds??

Messy eggs, one was broken. Is that the issue??

 

[Eggcessive]

Can you look under the vent and lower belly for those bugs, and for any white clumps of eggs at the base of feathers? I don’t know if those are mites or lice, but permethrin dust or spray will treat them. Depending on which they are, you need to treat them at 7 days intervals for mites, and at 10 day intervals for lice. Treat at least 2-3 times to get the bugs, and then the newly hatched ones before they reproduce. The coop, nest boxes, and roosts, needs treating after bedding is emptied and deposed. Here is a good link with pictures of lice and mites, and certain mites only come out at night:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

 

[Rick&Chris]

Can you look under the vent and lower belly for those bugs, and for any white clumps of eggs at the base of feathers? I don’t know if those are mites or lice, but permethrin dust or spray will treat them. Depending on which they are, you need to treat them at 7 days intervals for mites, and at 10 day intervals for lice. Treat at least 2-3 times to get the bugs, and then the newly hatched ones before they reproduce. The coop, nest boxes, and roosts, needs treating after bedding is emptied and deposed. Here is a good link with pictures of lice and mites, and certain mites only come out at night:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

I just went out to look with a flashlight. One of my girls has black dots moving all over her backside. I’m horrified. She is the only one that I could see them on. I check them regularly - at least the ones I can pick up and hold.

What do you think is better/more effective, dust or spray on the birds? I’m off to the feed store in the morning! Any egg withdrawal with permethrin?

Also, do I need to clean out the sand box under the roost? Do I need to pressure wash or just spray the coop with bug spray?

 

[Eggcessive]

That sounds like mites. They can cause anemia. I like the spray if it is not cold, but if it is cold, the dust is better. The spray comes in a concentrate for $8-16 at Tractor Supply that mixes with water in a spray bottle for the chickens, or garden sprayer for the coop. An 8 ounce bottle makes many gallons of spray. I would spray the coop, and it lasts 30 days.

 

[Rick&Chris]

That sounds like mites. They can cause anemia. I like the spray if it is not cold, but if it is cold, the dust is better. The spray comes in a concentrate for $8-16 at Tractor Supply that mixes with water in a spray bottle for the chickens, or garden sprayer for the coop. An 8 ounce bottle makes many gallons of spray. I would spray the coop, and it lasts 30 days.
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Thank you. Heading out this morning. How wet do I make the girls and do I do this at night?

 

[Eggcessive]

Read the label for mixing instructions. Most sources say that 15 ml or 1/2 ounce is plenty for a normal size chicken. I find that treating my chickens at night by taking them off the roost is easier. I use a headlamp.

 

[Rick&Chris]

Read the label for mixing instructions. Most sources say that 15 ml or 1/2 ounce is plenty for a normal size chicken. I find that treating my chickens at night by taking them off the roost is easier. I use a headlamp.

OK, thank you. And just to confirm, I spray their bottoms and under the wings?

 

[Eggcessive]

Spray where you see mites and mite droppings.