Months preparing for chickens - now put off by mite horror stories, help!

[Folly's place]

Look up pictures of poultry lice and mites, and you'll know. I've got some miserable little midges in my coop right now that bite; working on it! Mary

 

[laney7]

so what do you do to get rid of them?

 

[Folly's place]

The midges seem to be fewer in numbers, almost gone. It's been a warm and wet year, and haven't dealt with them before. I sprayed the coop and birds with permethrin once, and tat's all that happened here. When the midges persisted, I just waited it out Mary

 

[janz70]

could be northern mite if grey and are out during day - but could be unfed red mite as turn red once they have a blood meal.

I would do a total cleandown get rid of all bedding, nest and floor material and burn it.

Next I would clean entire coop inside with poultry shield, once dry put in new nest material, bedding, flooring and give it a good dose of ant powder containing permethrin.
Make sure you do the roof and all nooks and cranies as well.

clean all perches and vasaline / grease the ends where they meet the walls and ant powder them as well.

Dont forget to dust your chickens as well - use DE instead of antpowder if you want to go organic.

Good old creosote for the coop is aparently the best thing to use but its now banned in uk, dont know about the USA

 

[chickengeorgeto]

new to this but I seem to have small grayish bugs all over me when I feed or water my chickens. I don't know if they are lice or mites, not sure of the difference, but can anyone advise what to do?

Count the bugs' legs. Mites are related to lobsters & spiders and have 8 legs. Lice are insects and only have 6. Besides, what kills one will kill the other.

 

[Wickedchicken6]

You are aware & educating yourself BEFORE you get chickens. That's a huge plus!
You're proactive instead of reactive. You're aware of parasites so you can check your chickens and coop.
I think you'll be fine.