Mites

DebAnneDigi

Songster
Joined
Jun 14, 2021
Messages
174
Reaction score
183
Points
156
Location
Zone 4-5a Upper Catskills, 1395’ elevation
I’m itchy all over, they seem like noseeum bites. I take eggs out daily never see any black specs on them;would this be the only tell tale sign of mites?
What can I use in run and coop when it warms up.
Never had this before. This is first season ever dealing with rats can they bring in mites?
 
For Mites, check your coop and the birds at night, look around their vents, under the wings, etc. Wipe the roosting bars with a paper towel and see there's any bugs or smears.

It would be a good idea to spray down the coop, roosting bars, nesting boxes with a Permethrin based poultry spray. For the birds, I prefer to use Permethrin based poultry dust. Put the dust in a sock and use it like a powder puff to dust the birds, working the powder all the way down through the feathers to the skin.

Do clean out bedding before treating housing, either throw it away or burn it, don't compost it. Repeat treatment of the coop in 5-7days intervals.

Rats can be hard to get rid of. Put feed and water up at night. Start trapping. I put traps under a dish tub or some protected area where the chickens can't get in the trap. You'll trap some, but not all. Depending on how you feel about it, bait stations can also be used just put them where other animals and the chickens can't get into them.


If you are feeling them on the skin, it would be a good idea to change and launder clothes after tending the chickens.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/mite-infestation-starting-new-post.1630760/post-27847239
 
Might try Permethrin SFR/SFX and water mix it as directed. Mind you its only a repellent and not a bug killer/insecticide. Bathe my dogs in it, and mix it up as hunting outdoor a tick spray. Ironically its the same stuff in RID lice shampoo for your kids (LICE), just the stronger version.
Also IT was developed for ticks infestation of Real Foot Lake/TN in the 80 as the de-facto tick spray. repels lots of types of bugs... made from the eucalyptus plant. The synthetic version SFX or SFR is the man made version... Chemically identical to the plant juice.
Available at TSC, amazon .... maybe even wallyworld!

Use it in the house, yard, etc it repels a wide range of insects and spiders.
 
BTW....Permethrin becomes ineffective it it contacts skin tissue on dogs and humans and all other. It must dry on clothes, fur or feathers.

Also used in RID shampoo for children with head lice. Bedding, pillows, etc. Just not a mouth wash.
 

New posts New threads Active threads

Back
Top Bottom