My chicks have mites

[chickenlady81]

Ok so I was out in the coop this evening check on everyone and refill food and water. I had picked up a black silkie chick i have and noticed some little white/brownish creepy crawling things on him/her. Im going to pick up some seven dust and spray tomorrow and clean out the coop, spray everyone and the coop down, left dry and replace with fresh shavings. My question is how often am I going to have to spray the chicks? If I just leave the seven dust down will they get sick or is it just to dust the chicks?
Im not really sure where the mites came from since some of these chicks were from swaps and some were from a hatchery.

 

[jayde88]

How old are they?
If they are young, I wouldn't reccomend using Sevin Dust because it might harm the chicks. You might want to use DE instead. It is more natural and I don't think it would harm the chicks.
If you do use Sevin Dust, it depends on how many mite egg clumps they have, and how your first spraying goes. If there aren't any egg clumps (though there probably will be) and the first spraying goes good and wipes them all out then there wouldn't be need to reapply unless the mites come back. But most likely there will be egg clumps, in that case I suggest reapply once a week for a little while to get the new generation of mites after they hatch. Once it has done its job, then give the coop a thorough cleaning, replace bedding, etc.
When using Sevin Dust, especially with chicks, take precautions, make sure they don't eat it or inhale in, etc.
Good luck! Hope this helps!

 

[chickenlady81]

Quote:
They are between 9-16 weeks old i believe..Old enough were i dont need a heat light anymore but to young for laying or crowing.

 

[al6517]

If you are going to use Seven dust on them make sure it is 5% seven dust, that will do a great job and much safer.

AL

 

[baldie]

Also, DE is only a preventative measure...once the chicks are infested you have to use something like 7 dust. Good luck!

 

[threehorses]

If you have mites, you HAVE to treat the premises as mites spend most of their time off of the bird - not on them. They lay their eggs in the cracks of the wood and they stay in the roosts and bedding.

I would personally recommend Permethrin "poultry dust" or "mite dust" over sevin. It's just as effective and WAY more safe. Use that on the birds - dust thoroughly particularly in the warm moist areas - under the wings, back of neck, around the vent.

Then use the same dust and make a "paint" out of it with water and the dust - a thin paint. And use that to paint the wood, paying careful attention to get it deep in the cracks of the wood. And the joints.

You MUST do that. Otherwise the mites will just keep hatching and attacking your birds. Then you re-treat the birds in 7 days, and again in 7 days if needed.

For the bedding, scrape the bedding aside - use the poultry dust on the ground. Put the bedding back, dust into the bedding and stir in.

Hope this helps!

 

[al6517]

Quote:
I do this exact same thing with the exact same products twice a yr regardless of need, and have never had a problem. prevention gives me peace of mind and a much healthier flock. I mix my stuff in a garden tank sprayer and it works great and fast.

AL

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
Garden tank sprayer!! What a wonderful idea!! Can I steal it?

Wow it's so simple and obvious and didn't even occur to me. Guess it's a guy-gadget thing.

 

[chickenlady81]

If you were to treat your laying flock with seven and the poultry dust is there a time period you shouldnt eat the eggs?

 

[threehorses]

Quote:
I choose never to treat with Sevin because of its makeup - it's highly residual and deadly to some beneficial creatures. I eat eggs while treating with permethrin. Ivermectin, I withdraw use of eggs and meat 10-14 days even though Ivermectin is used in humans safely.