mites

[EinStein chic]

Has anyone had trouble getting rid of mites? I cleaned the coop and bleached all the visible mites . I had used dusting powder and wood ash too. I lost three chickens already. Does anybody use something different to effectively and quickly get rid of mites?

 

[Stiggy]

right you need to take on a hard stance with mites. firstly try a diesel and ripcord mix in a high pressure sprayer ( like the ones to spry plants) and get it into every crack. repeat a week later. if this doesn't work then try a carbarayl, water and dicswashing mix ( 2 caps carbaryal to 5 litres water and 3-4 pumps of dishwash, the dishwash helps it stick) . once they are gone check often. you can use DE afterwards to 'paint' into the cracks but only after doing the spraying. also wearing a mask is advised

 

[EinStein chic]

Thank you! I had also thought since The North American Foul Mite is like a tick, you could try flour on the chickens. What is your opinion?

 

[roostersandhens]

 

[Stiggy]

Ive never heard of that and we don't have ticks here so I wouldn't know. I personally wouldn't try it though. I use a plastic dust bath here due to the awful and unpredictable weather and in the dry dirt is some pestine ( our version of anti lice/flea) and DE just because everyone raves about it. as they bath in it gets through the feathers helping to prevent outbreaks, but if they are severe they will do nothing. the dust bathing also helps to relieve the itching that mites leave

 

[EinStein chic]

I never thought of that. Approximately how long does it take to get rid of mites? I heard mites can take 6% of a chickens blood daily, and would not like to loose my chicken flock.

 

[EinStein chic]

Thank you roostersandhens,
I agree that we should save all the chickens possible. They are such sweet animals.

 

[EinStein chic]

What can you do if mites are on your chickens? How do you get them off?

 

[WalleyWaller]

What can you do if mites are on your chickens? How do you get them off?

Mites are very tiny rounded insects that can be seen only through a microscope and that will also bite humans. The most common mites in backyard coops are Northern Fowl mite, Common Chicken mite, Scaly Leg mite. Some types of mites feed at night on the birds and then hide in cracks of the environment during the day; others stay on the birds. They can cause anemia, decreased egg-laying, and damage to skin and feathers. Some types even invade the lungs and other organs. Heavy mite populations can cause death.
Both the birds and the premises need to be treated for mites. Permithrin and several other good treatments exist.
A good treatment for Scaly Leg mites is petroleum jelly, linseed oil, or mineral oil applied liberally to the legs; these products smother the mites. Ask a poultry expert or vet for other treatment recommendations, because many good treatments aren’t registered for use with chickens.

 

[EinStein chic]

What do you do to get the northern fowl mite off a chicken? Our vets do not work with chickens sadly.