Mites

[Crazy chicken lady 77]

I have 8 newly hatched chicks outside in a coop with their mom. In my main coop I have a small coop inside that my nesting boxes sit on. The broody hen in the small coop has mites. They were crawling all over me after I picked her up this morning. My guess is depluming but I have no idea. I leave for 2 weeks Saturday so I need a way to treat everything quickly and effectively. I have about 40 chickens including the 8 chivks and 4 six week old chicks. Please help

I added a picture i took from a video and drew an arrow to the mites. Unfortunately this one was on me after only handling day old chicks so im likely going to have to treat them.

 

[GodLovesU]

I’m not sure if it’s safe around chicks, but permethrin is pretty effective. It only requires two doses. You can find more information here.

 

[coach723]

Depluming mites are microscopic and burrow into the skin at the base of feather shafts and into the feathers shafts themselves, so not likely what you are seeing. More likely standard poultry mites. Caution should be used in treating baby chicks with permethrin however. You can treat the mother, and clean out the coop, but unless you have to, I would hold off on using that on the chicks if possible. Some sources say 6 weeks old. If you must, I would use a powder rather than a spray so they don't get chilled. You can put the powder in a sock and pat it all over the mother, making sure it gets down to her skin. Try to avoid getting it on her face or her breathing it, as well as you. If you must treat the chicks, I would do the same way for them. Elector PSP will also work, usually fewer treatments with that, not sure on how young they can be for that one. You also need to clean out and treat the coop and area they are living in. More here:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

 

[Crazy chicken lady 77]

Depluming mites are microscopic and burrow into the skin at the base of feather shafts and into the feathers shafts themselves, so not likely what you are seeing. More likely standard poultry mites. Caution should be used in treating baby chicks with permethrin however. You can treat the mother, and clean out the coop, but unless you have to, I would hold off on using that on the chicks if possible. Some sources say 6 weeks old. If you must, I would use a powder rather than a spray so they don't get chilled. You can put the powder in a sock and pat it all over the mother, making sure it gets down to her skin. Try to avoid getting it on her face or her breathing it, as well as you. If you must treat the chicks, I would do the same way for them. Elector PSP will also work, usually fewer treatments with that, not sure on how young they can be for that one. You also need to clean out and treat the coop and area they are living in. More here:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

I added 2 pictures of the mites. I'd appreciate any help you can offer.

 

[Crazy chicken lady 77]

I’m not sure if it’s safe around chicks, but permethrin is pretty effective. It only requires two doses. You can find more information here.

I bought some permethrin. Thanks for the information

 

[GodLovesU]

I bought some permethrin. Thanks for the information

No problem!

 

[C Siena]

I just read the label of Elector PSP and it does not have anything about age, so unsure about the young chicks. It also reads to reapply 7-10 days or 14 days/as needed, depending on the pest.

 

[C Siena]

@dawg53 You responded to a post about lice on baby chicks and stated Sevin would work and how to apply it on the chicks. Do you still believe this is the best solution for lice/mites on chicks a few days old and there are some 6 wk old chicks.

The post was from 2011

 

[dawg53]

@dawg53 You responded to a post about lice on baby chicks and stated Sevin would work and how to apply it on the chicks. Do you still believe this is the best solution for lice/mites on chicks a few days old and there are some 6 wk old chicks.

The post was from 2011

It would be better to use Permethrin dust instead of Sevin dust. The chemical composition in Sevin has changed and I'm not familiar with it.
I use Permethrin dust for my birds/coops.
Apply the dust with your fingers and gently rub it in the fluff/feathers of chicks as best as you can, avoid the eyes. Dont forget to dust their brooder.
Permethrin dust can be found in hardware stores/feed stores.

 

[C Siena]

It would be better to use Permethrin dust instead of Sevin dust. The chemical composition in Sevin has changed and I'm not familiar with it.
I use Permethrin dust for my birds/coops.
Apply the dust with your fingers and gently rub it in the fluff/feathers of chicks as best as you can, avoid the eyes. Dont forget to dust their brooder.
Permethrin dust can be found in hardware stores/feed stores.

Thank you. I was asking for the OP but good knowledge to have in case I need it.
@Crazy chicken lady 77

I like the Humble name, I and much of the world need it. Thank you again.