Mites

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

No they didnt pull it, just cut it from 10% down to 5%.
The mites usually are less active in cold weather, but still possible. Though usually major out breaks are in the summer.

 

[jojo54]

I have a chicken that shakes her head alot. Would that be mites too? She doesn't do the gape thing that people talk about for gapeworm?

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

it's a possibility. As long as she's not sickly. Listen to her breathing to see if she sounds conjested, she may have a respitory infection of some form. I see head shaking more when that's the case, than anything. Catch her and listens to her chest, check her for mites too while you have her. If her chest sounds clear, parasites of some form could be the problem..

 

[WisconsinGardenChick]

Quote:
Here is a safe way to apply Sevin dust from the Ohio State University Extension:

One treatment method for small flocks or individual birds is the use of a dusting bath with Sevin. Place the bird into a garbage bag containing the medicated powder with the birds’ head out and rotate/shake the bag to completely cover the bird with powder. Be sure not to inhale the medicated powder during treatments. The use of a facial mask is recommended to prevent inhaling this medicated powder.

They are calling it a "medicated powder;" it is more accurately described as a nerve agent. Sevin is the trade name for carbaryl, which was developed for wartime use in nerve gases. It works by inhibiting the enzyme cholinesterase which results in disruption of nerve impulse transmissions. It has been classified as a likely human carcinogen by the EPA and is toxic to honeybees.

Sevin 5 is just 5% carbaryl, but I think the above is worth stating - we ought to have a healthy respect for this chemical. I hope to goodness I never have to use it; I'd start with DE first.​

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

That's very good info on the dusting, never thought of putting them in a bag! I'd just like to point out though, this is a very effective chemical that I have used for decades, it is completely harmless at this strength to humans. No I wouldnt pour it on my food, or in my tea, It's not going to make your brain ooze out your ears or anything like that. The only folks that would have trouble with it, would be ones repeatedly exposed to it day in and day out, such as the people manufacturing it. (MY DAD made all these chemicals at work, my entire life growing up, to him Sevin Dust was like baby powder, LOL)
Anyway, always go by manufactures safety precautions when using any chemical, dust masks, glove, wash hands etc, just felt I should point out that a once or twice a year exposure to Sevin Dust, is not going to cause any ill effects on humans (the only exception my be if by some chance, you are allergic to it), you know, you are saturating a tiny chicken in it, and they are fine right?
Just my 2 cents on a great product.....

 

[Leghorn Junction]

Wonderful information! My 6 silkie chicks are 4 weeks old and I'm pretty sure they have mites, although I can't see them. I just thoroughly cleaned their coop--a large plastic dog crate--which is in our mud room, just off our family room. [Guess I picked the wrong time of year to raise chicks in N.E. PA!] I sprinkled some Permethrin dust and some DE on the bottom then the shavings. I could go get some Sevin, but isn't the Permethrin just as "safe" and effective if I use it the same way, i.e., to dust the chicks with? Will that still be necessary--will they not get enough from what's in their shavings? The only worry I have is about the safety of either product in the house, and handling the chicks, which I do several times a day. I guess if I keep the door to that room closed, and wash up good every time I handle them, everything/everyone shoud be okay, if I interpret what you're saying? Thanks for your help!

 

[Boggy Bottom Bantams]

permethrin is what 90% of bug men use to spray in your house for monthly treatments. I didnt know it came in a dust form!!
Should be fine, read the lable to be sure of any warning first though. I know in spray form, it dosent bother any of our ferrets, cats, or biddies that may be in the house when the bug man comes....Getting something in the feathers will help, just in the bedding will take longer to cure.

 

[Leghorn Junction]

Sounds like good advice to follow. THANKS!

 

[WisconsinGardenChick]

Quote:
Hi, Boggy---

What got me up on my soap box initially were phrases in your prior post such as "you can throw it everywhere" and "rub it in the feathers good." As you wrote in your follow-up post, proper precautions should be taken when using the product.

I hate to be a stickler, but it is not accurate to say that it is "completely harmless at this strength to humans." The EPA has established standard measures for lethal dosage which correspond to signal words on the product such as "Danger," "Warning," and "Caution." The oral and dermal lethal dose ratings of Sevin are "Caution," or "slightly toxic." The oral lethal dose rating of Permethrin is also "slightly toxic" and the dermal lethal dose rating is "relatively non-toxic." Sevin has a higher dermal lethal dose rating than Permethrin because Sevin can be absorbed through the skin.

Quote:
You know, I would agree with you if Sevin were one of just a few chemicals in the environment. But we live today in a veritable chemical soup. Dozens upon dozens of new chemicals have been introduced into the environment since WWII. It's the cumulative effect of these that is problematic. So my preference is to severely limit my use of them. I did use Sevin once in an extreme situation, but that was years ago. I hope many more years will go by before I ever need something like that again.

Katherine

 

[gsim]

I would do the 10% sevin if you can find it. I have used it for flea and tick control. No experience yet on birds. If you were covered with them, the chooks and their coop/litter must be really bad. I would burn the litter and change it out, but wash the floor down first and dust it with sevin before adding the new litter back. Ditto for the nests boxes.

I built my own home and one thing I did for long-term protection for pests was to apply a liberal coat of 10% sevin dust to the floor area under all cabinets and vanities and also under the cookstove, washer, and dryer. I have never seen a roach in my house. Once I found a dead mouse standing for all the world as if a taxidermist had done him. I suspect the sevin dust did it.