Neverending mites

[Crazy chicken lady 77]

In July I found that I had a horrible mite infestation. I bathed my birds , cleaned the coop and sprayed everything down. 10 days later I repeated these steps. The infestation is much better, but not gone. I haven't seen mites since August, but I still have birds with eggs in their feathers. Which means the mites are hiding somewhere. I've tried bathing them, powdering, and have added herbs to their feed and favorite dust bath spots. I have 40 chickens, 24 have hatched this year. I haven't for any signs of mites on even my oldest chicks (late may chicks are 3/4 grown) these 4 chickens are quarantined, but the 2 that look ratty don't have mite eggs or bites that I see and the other 2 do. Please send suggestions as im at a th total loss and now it's so cold s I can't safely bathe them left 2 chickens don't have visible eggs or bites right 2 do. Pictures are of buts left to right. Last two pics are far right hen. Sorry for the quality, it was dark and I was alone.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Are the mites hiding somewhere or are they being brought back into the coop due to poor bio security?

That is the first question to ask.

Usually mites are host specific but wild birds will certainly bring in mites that happily host on a chicken.

If this fits your scenario, first tighten up the coop, find a way to prevent the wild birds from hanging around on top of the coop, usually you need to control the feed, then and only then do you treat the coop and birds for mites.

Stop the flood before mopping the floor!

 

[Crazy chicken lady 77]

Are the mites hiding somewhere or are they being brought back into the coop due to poor bio security?

That is the first question to ask.

Usually mites are host specific but wild birds will certainly bring in mites that happily host on a chicken.

If this fits your scenario, first tighten up the coop, find a way to prevent the wild birds from hanging around on top of the coop, usually you need to control the feed, then and only then do you treat the coop and birds for mites.

Stop the flood before mopping the floor!

This is a great question. Last fall the Eastern starlings moved in. I have struggled with them ever since. My coop is huge and the chickens have about 1/6 of an acer that is fenced in where they "free range" the quarantined birds are in a secured environment, but the others have wild birds in their food daily. I suspect this is where the problem started. I bought an expensive feeder that the chickens step on to access their food, but I have 5 ish week old chicks that we would be unable to use it and could get hurt so I have not used it. I also covered an area thinking ahead for winter so I currently have a 10x20 coop and 10x20 enclosed run. I could lock them in so the wild birds cannot access them, but their space and sunlight would be drastically reduced and those aren't the birds I am currently struggling with since those ones are quarantined. I plan to closely inspect them all again this weekend, but am not sure how I'll proceed since it's too cold to bathe them.

 

[nuthatched]

What are you using to treat the coop and birds?

 

[Al Gerhart]

You are correct, small chickens of that age cannot use a treadle feeder but the others can. Segregate the little ones, get that expensive feeder put to use. The wild birds will leave once the food is secured and you have a decent bio security plan in place. The majority of them anyway.

 

[Crazy chicken lady 77]

What are you using to treat the coop and birds?

I have pouletry dust powder and liquid perthermin

 

[Crazy chicken lady 77]

You are correct, small chickens of that age cannot use a treadle feeder but the others can. Segregate the little ones, get that expensive feeder put to use. The wild birds will leave once the food is secured and you have a decent bio security plan in place. The majority of them anyway.

Last winter the birds moved inside when they couldn't get food outside which was a nightmare. I worry they will do the same if I use the treadel feeder without locking the chickens in which locks the birds out. Thoughts?

 

[Crazy chicken lady 77]

Are the mites hiding somewhere or are they being brought back into the coop due to poor bio security?

That is the first question to ask.

Usually mites are host specific but wild birds will certainly bring in mites that happily host on a chicken.

If this fits your scenario, first tighten up the coop, find a way to prevent the wild birds from hanging around on top of the coop, usually you need to control the feed, then and only then do you treat the coop and birds for mites.

Stop the flood before mopping the floor!

This spring I moved their food outside to keep the birds out of the coop. I just moved it inside under their new covered area so I wild bird would have to go through 2 chicken doors to get to it, but if I end up with birds in the coop, I'll have to lock the chickens up to keep them out.

 

[Al Gerhart]

Last winter the birds moved inside when they couldn't get food outside which was a nightmare. I worry they will do the same if I use the treadel feeder without locking the chickens in which locks the birds out. Thoughts?

If you have the right treadle feeder the wild birds will not be able to get to the feed.

Increase the spring tension on the door to the point that your average weight hen can use it, the smaller hens will quickly learn to eat when they can.

The treadle step HAS to be narrow and distant, the wide steps like on the Chinese made Grandpa feeders and the many clones will be overwhelmed with a flock of birds. Maybe you can trim down the step if you have one of those type feeders. Make the hen stretch out to reach the feed so the distance is as far a possible.

Treadle feeders only work when there is a big difference between the weight and reach of a hen compared to the vermin you are trying to keep out.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

The infestation is much better, but not gone. I haven't seen mites since August, but still have birds with eggs in their feathers.

Looks like Lice Nits.
The eggs are basically "glued" to the base of the feathers. Are you seeing actual crawling bugs or lice on the birds?

To help unglue to the Nits, you can apply some coconut oil and they will start to come off. Some people pluck the feathers, but if there's a lot of them, that may not be practical.

Here's a bit more info with photos to help you I.D. whether you are dealing with Lice or Mites. While treatment can be the same, using Permethrin based dusts/sprays, the 2 "bugs" do act differently and have a different life cycle, so knowing what you are treating and how to treat can help you win the battle.

https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/

https://bitchinchickens.com/2019/09/12/northern-fowl-red-mites/