Northern fowl mite - repeatedly cleaning coop overkill??

[Tracyree]

I'm battling Northern Fowl Mite. Good times. My fault, which makes it worse. I didn't know to provide a dusting place over the winter, just didn't occur to me as they had access to their 500 square foot dirt run. Well... Wet dirt doesn't exactly work for a dust bath, does it?

So now they have northern fowl mite. 2 of them seem unaffected somehow. The other 5 were pretty infested

I'm doing this naturally.

When I discovered it I removed shavings, dusted coop with DE down and put new shavings down. I dusted the hens with wood ash and DE at the same time and ordered Poultry Protector concentrate.

Four days later I bathed them all in Poultry Protector and sprayed it in the coop. Did not change out shavings. (That was Wednesday this week)

Checked them last night and all but one look mite free.

Tomorrow I am bathing them again in Poultry Protector.

I'm torn about cleaning shavings out. Northern Fowl Mite spends it life cycle ON the hen. I imagine some drop off, especially in the next box, but some drop off everywhere then, right? I can't treat the entire yard/woods they free range so does it make sense to scoop out all the shavings again??

Thanks! I'm really impressed with Poultry Protector, seems to work great used as a dip.

 

[Basil G]

I've had mites before, like you they did not want to go.
What I did was set up a place for my chickens in garage and one by one I washed them with flea and tick dog shampoo. Once they were all washed I took everything out of the coop. The wood shavings and straw went in to a garbage bag and went to the dump. Everything else that was removable got washed with 3/4 water 1/4 bleach. Then I did the same with every corner of the coop and I let it air dry the rest of the day. I filled the coop up with fresh straw/shavings I dusted the nests with DE and threw handfuls of DE in the coop (might have gone over board there but I wanted the mites gone) and the flock went back in the coop that night . Then I would dust them down with DE every few days until there were no more mites

 

[Tracyree]

Thanks Basil. Glad you had success!

Feeling really good about the situation today. Cleaned out coop for second time, put down tons of DE and added shavings. Hosed nest boxed and added de and new shavings.

Rebathed each chicken in Poultry Protector even though I only found live mites on one.

I highly recommend Poultry Protector. They were INFESTED and it seems to have really done an amazing job.

Plan now is to stay on top of prevention!!

 

[aart]

Thanks Basil. Glad you had success!

Feeling really good about the situation today. Cleaned out coop for second time, put down tons of DE and added shavings. Hosed nest boxed and added de and new shavings.

Rebathed each chicken in Poultry Protector even though I only found live mites on one.

I highly recommend Poultry Protector. They were INFESTED and it seems to have really done an amazing job.

Plan now is to stay on top of prevention!!

Got a link?

 

[Tracyree]

https://www.mannapro.com/products/poultry/poultry-protector/

They make a ready to use spray on and a concentrate. To bath the birds you have to use the concentrate and follow dilution instructions. I had to order the concentrate from Flemings. Tractor supply and our local co-op has the ready to use. Between the Poultry Protector and DE I am hoping to have these mites beat.

Poultry Protector is all natural and non toxic. Same thing as Carefree Enzymes Poultry Protector (I think mannapro is just licensing it?)

 

[TheChickInn]

Mites are NO fun! I have had good luck keeping them at bay for awhile now. When I had a winter infestation a few years back, it really took me by surprise, as I had only ever seen them in summer. When I found them- I gave them ALL a bath in Adams flea and tick shampoo- it has a residual that will kill any mites for a few weeks. In winter, I now keep a cat litter box duster ( I put a flake or two of hay or straw in front of it so they can get in and out with ease), I put DE, wood ashes, sand and a few shakes of Sevin garden dust into the litter box so they can enjoy a good dust bath whenever they wish.

 

[GA_Gypsy]

Great idea about the litter box! But what do you mean by a flake or two of hay or straw? Also, how long did it take them to figure out how to use the box? Thanks!