The day I have been dreading since getting chickens has arrived - I have discovered mites on my poor hens. I first wondered if I might have an infestation when I noticed a lot of my chickens getting poopy butts, but figured it was probably a gut health problem as I had not seen any actual mites. This morning, while doing my daily coop clean, I picked up some discarded feathers under the roost and noticed quite a lot of mites crawling on my hand. I found some on my phone, which was sitting on the roost bars, too. They were light grey or brown, but this was just after sunrise and since I found them in the coop, I thought I was dealing with Red Mites. But I just checked one of my chickens this afternoon and noticed that she had active mites around her vent. Most were bright red, but some were that same light grey/transluscent-y color. So now I'm confused. Are these Red Mites or Northern Fowl Mites? Do Red Mites ever hang around on the chickens during the day? It has been overcast today, could that affect anything?
I've tried to do a lot of research on treatments today, but all have both positive and negative testimonials so I'm a bit overwhelmed with choice and unsure what treatments I can combo. I'm leaning towards Elector PSP for both the chickens and the coop... For the chickens themselves, can I combo that with Ivermectin or Permethrin? I guess, to really break it down, I'm trying to decide between these...
For the Chickens:
Elector PSP Alone
Elector PSP & Ivermectin Pour-On
Elector PSP & Permethrin Dust
Ivermectin Pour-On Alone
Ivermectin Pour-On & Permethrin Dust
Permethrin Dust Alone
Bronco Horse Flyspray
Pyrethrin Spray?
Frontline?? - I know it's not approved for chickens, but I've heard people say it worked for them??
For the Coop:
Elector PSP Alone
Elector PSP & Permethrin Dust
Permethrin Dust or Spray Alone
Plus maybe Lime or DE in the bedding?
I am willing to try multiple treatments over time, but I am going on vacation in a little over a week for a little under two weeks (of course this is happening now...) and I would like to try to provide my flock with some partial relief at least before I go.
Until I can get some treatments going, I'm going to wrap some blue painter's tape on the roosts to see if I can catch any mites overnight.
If anyone has any advice or treatment plan that's worked for them, I'd really appreciate any suggestions and advice!
I've tried to do a lot of research on treatments today, but all have both positive and negative testimonials so I'm a bit overwhelmed with choice and unsure what treatments I can combo. I'm leaning towards Elector PSP for both the chickens and the coop... For the chickens themselves, can I combo that with Ivermectin or Permethrin? I guess, to really break it down, I'm trying to decide between these...
For the Chickens:
Elector PSP Alone
Elector PSP & Ivermectin Pour-On
Elector PSP & Permethrin Dust
Ivermectin Pour-On Alone
Ivermectin Pour-On & Permethrin Dust
Permethrin Dust Alone
Bronco Horse Flyspray
Pyrethrin Spray?
Frontline?? - I know it's not approved for chickens, but I've heard people say it worked for them??
For the Coop:
Elector PSP Alone
Elector PSP & Permethrin Dust
Permethrin Dust or Spray Alone
Plus maybe Lime or DE in the bedding?
I am willing to try multiple treatments over time, but I am going on vacation in a little over a week for a little under two weeks (of course this is happening now...) and I would like to try to provide my flock with some partial relief at least before I go.
Until I can get some treatments going, I'm going to wrap some blue painter's tape on the roosts to see if I can catch any mites overnight.
If anyone has any advice or treatment plan that's worked for them, I'd really appreciate any suggestions and advice!
