mites

[Stiggy]

@WalleyWaller "Mites are very tiny rounded insects that can be seen only through a microscope" I completely disagree. Yes some mites cannot be seen, or it is very difficult with the naked eye and a microscope is needed. However the grey mites and blood mites can be seen with the human eye, they aren't huge but they are not so small either, and like you said they do large amounts of damage.

Depending on where you live and how resistant the mites are depends on what you can get for it. In some places like NZ there is very little to get rid of them so other alternatives must be used ( and it is not feasible to burn down the house every time there is an infestation) . Granted you must be very careful about how you go about it but it is possible to eradicate the mites for the time being but where there is birds the mites will not be far behind.

 

[EinStein chic]

True. what do you suggest to put on or treat the individual chickens?

 

[Stiggy]

There's not much you can put on them to stop the mites.You just have to spray the houses, not use hay for bedding ( be wary with straw also as it harbours the mites and mould spores) . Really it just needs to be kept on top off. In my houses I spray them with Disinfectant once a month and clean out the bedding every fortnight ( as it is Sawdust it gets turned every second day) in their bedding I put a cup or so of DE in for good measure as well as adding it to the bath. I like to think that by keeping on top of it and using preventive measures that I can help my birds. Powdering them for lice will sort out the lice problem but the mites is another thing altogether

 

[Kelsie2290]

Hello and Welcome To BYC! If you do a search there are a number of things people have used, ie https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/749736/mites-mites-mites and https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/473735/what-works-best-for-northern-fowl-mites

 

[EinStein chic]

Thank you for the ideas and the welcome.I have a big coop and cleaned it. I tried poultry dust and sprays. I don't want to loose more chickens but nothing is killing the critters on my chickens fast enough. This is my first time dealing with mites and they are 2 years old.any ideas to kill the mites so my flock doesn't die? These mites are all over the coop and the chickens.I clean it every 2 weeks with new shavings and everything . I'm desperate to get rid of the mites.

 

[EinStein chic]

What is DE?

 

[gander007]

 

[Stiggy]

DE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth

 

[WalleyWaller]

I ran across this link. It may help though I have not tried this. Hope it helps!
http://naturalchickenkeeping.blogspot.com/2012/12/natural-way-to-rid-chickens-of-lice.html

 

[EinStein chic]

Thank you so much walleywaller!