MITES!

[Animol]

I keep chickens and recently discovered the hutch I was keeping a broody hen and her two chicks in was infested with mites. Mainly small black ones with white markings, after going to scats I bought some mite kill spray which got rid of these ones but left me with red mites instead (I don't know if they're actually red or just bloated with blood) mainly found in the latches on the hutch and in the door. They were crushed as I open and shut the door leaving streaks of blood behind. I can't seem to get rid of them after repeatedly spraying the hutch and I believe they're still reproducing as I also find much smaller tiny white mites which I believe to be the hatchlings.
In addition to this another hutch has the same but those mites are small and shiny black (probably a different species).
The thing is, my sister has some chicks we hatched out of the incubator and they go out at day, then come in at night. Now she announced that she had mites all in her bedroom, in and on the tape player, on her chest of draws. Everywhere.
They don't appear to have managed to leave her room yet so we took her out and a few of her clothes which we are putting in the wash at the highest temperature possible hoping that this will kill any of the ones on there.
What do you recommend? We really would rather have the house fumigated as a last resort because of the cost. Shall I buy some stuff to seal up the door, keyhole etc. then try to wait them out? How long would they survive?
From what I can see we have up to 4 types of mite, shiny black ones, red oned, black and white ones and some brownish ones (the ones that have infested my sisters bedroom).
What species do you think they are. My sisters room is too much of a mess for fumigating so should we burn her stuff? What do you recommend to treat the chickens?
Please Please Please help.

 

[Majd]

Omg that's awful..... you should keep spraying where even they can be.... between cracks.... doors and such small places they hide in and lay eggs... you can get anti mite powder for the birds and powder them all unger tge feathers.... all of the bird... even one surviving female can reinfest them... try to kill as much as possible... you can do some research on Google and see how much they can live..... I read once that the don't live much on humans because they are specific to birds.... it's betterto ask for advice from experts..... and delete the whole Invasion... hope you can get rid of them soon because I really understand what you are facing. .. because I had the same situation once but killed them before they spread out.... that's a really scary situation... hope to get rid of it soon

 

[Majd]

Please anyone with more experience help our friend here!!!! Anyone... and fast.... if someone lives in england he can tell us what the measures to take

 

[nwjolly]

Have you ever heard of diatomaceous earth? Look it up on google. It can be found in tractor supply and most feed stores. I have been using it in my coop, nesting boxes and even putting it in their feed. It will kill mites and all sorts of bugs. To kill mites you dust the chicken with the DE and put it the nesting boxes and where they dust. It works! It also keep bugs out of the coop and feed. This stuff works mericles!

 

[spikennipper]

Hi, I'm in the Uk had a bad infestation last year, none this year, here is what I do, place Diatom in the bedding area, smear vicks vaporub, I know sounds strange! around the perch ends, the mites will not cross this so the birds can roost in peace, and something new this year is spraying cracks and crevices with pet flea spray called Acclaim, it's good stuff! and is residual so will keep acting, so far this year I have had no issues touch wood! the mites you are seeing are more than likely the same species just at different levels of maturity and depending on when they last had a feed they can look grey to black, the ones in your sisters bedroom will disappear if there is no food source, is their chickens in her room? do you have a shed or out building they can go into? either that or place them in the bath in their enclosure if it fits as then you can clean up easier, they do not like living on us, I would not bother burning her stuff it may work but seems a bit drastic! just spray acclaim everywhere

good luck!

 

[Animol]

Ok, thanks for your help. I'll go get some diatom now and get powder tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

 

[purpletree23]

You are way beyond the diatomacious earth phase. You need an insecticide and you need to get that broody and her babies out of that infested hutch into a non infested area.

Can you get ivermectin over there? The pour on type that kills bugs when they bite the host? If you can or have something similar search this site for instructions. If you do use it the babies only get one drop, Mom gets four.

Before you move the broody bathe her in a flea and tick bath. Ask someone at the store that you need something to kill mites. Can you get poultry dust? If you can dust the entire new area where you are going to house the broody before you put down new bedding. Especially all the corners and the area where the walls meet the floor. Dust the chicks and hen and use your fingers to ruffle their feathers to make sure it gets down to the skin.

As for the bedroom strip everything including the drapes and wash in hot water. Get a bug bomb that also kills fleas. Close all openings and follow the bomb instructions. Leave the room closed for 24 hours. Do not air out. Set off another bomb and wait another 24 hours.

Air out room and vacuum and clean everything. If you see any mites close up the room and bomb again. Throw away the vacuum cleaner bag or if it is permanent filter type close it tightly in a plastic bag and freeze it for at least a day.

 

[Suzie]

I totally agree with the above post... you should be able to buy Permethryn in the UK... there is a liquid form for treating the coop, nesting boxes etc and a powder form for applying to the chickens.... areas most vulnerable are under wings and vent areas. DO wear a mask when using the product it is not good for your lungs!!!!

As for your Sisters bedroom..... you cannot use such a product in the house! Having had a problem here we found some mites in the bed, pillows and crawling around the floors.... wash all bedding (including pillows) and the problem should dissipate within a few days.

The above poster explains everything in great detail. DE is good as a preventative measure but is ineffective for infestations and it is VERY expensive in England!

Wishing you a bug free home very soon!

 

[GranmaEm]

I totally agree with the above post... you should be able to buy Permethryn in the UK... there is a liquid form for treating the coop, nesting boxes etc and a powder form for applying to the chickens.... areas most vulnerable are under wings and vent areas. DO wear a mask when using the product it is not good for your lungs!!!!

I agree. You can get Permethrin powder online through amazon.co.uk (they deliver very quickly) and Ivermectin for pigeons (2 drops/ small and 3 drops/ large chicken) is available on the site too.

I clean out the coop completely, dust crevices with DE and puff in the Permethrin. I mix the bottom layer of bedding with Permethrin too.

For the chickens, I dose the Ivermectin twice 5 days apart and also thoroughly dust each chook with the Permethrin. I have an adopted Polish who introduced the mites from a heavy crest infestation. They're all gone.

The flea powder in the pet shop, sprinkled on the carpet at home and Hoovered up after 24 hours should sort the house out too.

 

[Animol]

OK, so drastic measures. I can do that. Thanks for all your help