Northern fowl mites

[rosemarythyme]

Elemental sulfur is another option that's more natural and supposedly doesn't have issue with building up resistance in mites, but it works slower and of course smells of sulfur.

 

[ErnieBerley]

DE is probably worse for lungs than permethrin.
If you have mites or lice DE is not going to kill them...
...and of course you have to be careful with the permethrin when handling it.

however you dont put DE in the coop it goes around it so no problem with lungs

 

[aart]

however you dont put DE in the coop it goes around it so no problem with lungs

Actually many people do put DE in the coop, and on the birds and in the dust baths. .....and it's not going to do much around the coop either.
No matter where you put it, not gonna control poultry parasites.

Well you bright chicken people that have been raising them for years should find a safer method than permethrin

Why do you think permethrin is so bad?
Folks use worse, IMO, stuff on their birds.

What would you recommend besides DE?

Yes, please @ErnieBerley , what would you recommend?

 

[roosterhavoc]

@ErnieBerley have you personally found mites and or lice on your chickens and then put down DE around the coop to solve the problem? Meaning you checked the birds over and after the application of DE the birds were magically free and clear of bugs?
I’m guessing you’re just repeating what you’ve heard from other people that have no idea what they’re talking about.

 

[ErnieBerley]

@ErnieBerley have you personally found mites and or lice on your chickens and then put down DE around the coop to solve the problem? Meaning you checked the birds over and after the application of DE the birds were magically free and clear of bugs?
I’m guessing you’re just repeating what you’ve heard from other people that have no idea what they’re talking about.

exactly.... but i dont believe in the dow and monsanto chemicals are a better way - can someome with experience and wisdom of not using chemicals on chickens please chime in .. no i dont have experience with mites, but i do have enough sense not to poison my animals

 

[rosemarythyme]

no i dont have experience with mites, but i do have enough sense not to poison my animals

I might've said the same, until *I* had mites... yeah once I was breaking out in a rash all over with clustered bites all over my torso, I was very happy to break out the permethrin and insta kill the little jerks.

One of my hens was getting anemic by that point as well, but we had thought it was an eye or respiratory infection. Her face was swollen, her eyes crusty, her butt had scabs, all from mites biting her. So the mites had to go asap!

 

[roosterhavoc]

exactly.... but i dont believe in the dow and monsanto chemicals are a better way - can someome with experience and wisdom of not using chemicals on chickens please chime in .. no i dont have experience with mites, but i do have enough sense not to poison my animals

I’m not sure how long you’ve had chickens but I’d bet you if they’re over 1 yr old they have lice. Most don’t look close enough.
I have a 10 yr old dark Brahma hen that has been treated with frontline and Sevin every year of her life. While I’m not a fan of chemicals in this case imo it’s a necessary evil. Now if you have like 4 chickens by all means skip the DE you’re wasting time and money and just give them a bath every now and then.

 

[Justso]

Well you bright chicken people that have been raising them for years should find a safer method than permethrin

I'm curious Ernie, what do you find so dangerous about it?

 

[cmom]

so tell me you all aren't putting permethrin directly on chickens? Even near them and in a coop where they have to live and breathe? wow. wouldn't diatomaceous earth work best and not poison you, your chickens and your land?

I don't know where you are getting your information. Permethrin has worked for me. I have tried just about everything such as DE, sevin, Elector PSP, permethrin, pyrethroid, pyrethrin. etc. Most products worked but some didn't. If permethrin hasn't worked it may be your mixture. I use the concentrate and mix it with water and I also use permethrin poultry dust. I no longer have issues with mites or lice. It is toxic to bees and cats but if you spray and let it dry then it's no longer a problem. I do research things out before I use them instead of taking someone's word. I also read the fact sheets about the products that's put out by their manufacture. DE isn't good for people to breathe. @Folly's place has had serious issues with using DE. Maybe she will post about it.