Official BYC Poll: How Do You Deal With Lice & Mite Infestations in your Coop?

[BYC Project Manager]

One of the most common problems encountered when raising and keeping poultry is lice & mites. They can be introduced by wild birds or visiting rodents, or get picked up when your birds get into contact with other, infested, birds at places such as poultry shows, sales, or auctions. Chickens with bad infestations become thin, don’t lay eggs well, and have reduced fertility. With really bad infestations your birds may also die.

So How Do You Deal With Lice & Mite Infestations in your Coop?

Please place your vote above, and elaborate in a reply below if you chose "Other".

Further Reading:

• Mites on Chickens: Prevention and Treatment
• Dealing With Mites
• Mite & Lice Treatment and Prevention
• Keeping Your Coop Mite & Rodent-Free
• How To Protect Your Chickens from Lice
• How To Protect Your Chickens from Mites

(Check out more Official BYC Polls HERE!)

 

[cherrynberry]

One of the most common problems encountered when raising and keeping poultry is lice & mites. They can be introduced by wild birds or visiting rodents, or get picked up when your birds get into contact with other, infested, birds at places such as poultry shows, sales, or auctions. Chickens with bad infestations become thin, don’t lay eggs well, and have reduced fertility. With really bad infestations your birds may also die.

So How Do You Deal With Lice & Mite Infestations in your Coop?

Please place your vote above, and elaborate in a reply below if you chose "Other".

View attachment 2741295

Further Reading:

• Dealing With Mites
• Mite & Lice Treatment and Prevention
• Keeping Your Coop Mite & Rodent-Free
• How To Protect Your Chickens from Lice
• How To Protect Your Chickens from Mites

(Check out more Official BYC Polls HERE!)

Although I don’t dust my chickens regularly, I like to keep permethrin handy in case.

 

[HollyWoozle]

I usually clean out the coop once a week and nest boxes as required, checking weekly for signs of mites (or sometimes a little more often) and using a permethrin-based spray or powder as required. I wish I didn't have to use chemicals/insecticides but we are using an old wooden shed as our coop and mites really have to be kept on top of - permethrin is the only thing which has worked for me. Occasionally in the summer season I will find a few mites and I act right away.

Our flock have good dust bathing places available, although I can't keep them away from rodents and wild birds. If I ever see lites/mice on the chickens then I treat them with a permethrin spray as well. New chickens are kept separate for a time.

 

[CatSeg57]

My hens (a small flock of 7) have varying degrees of scaly leg mites. Please elaborate on this permethrin spray. Will it get rid of the mites, how do I use it and where can I find it?
Also, will the mites affect the quality of the eggs?

 

[casportpony]

This is what I do:

I treat the birds and coops as needed with permethrin dust or spray.

For permethrin dilution amounts:

Permethrin Dilution - Updated with Product PDFs​

 

[Show Sebright]

I give my chickens ivermectin topical and dip their wings and tail in permithrin (watered down of course)

 

[kerbotx]

I deal with an infestation of lice by treating the entire flock with poultry dust, Gardstar from Tractor Supply or similar, as directed.
*Link https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/y-tex-gardstar-garden-poultry-dust?cm_vc=-10005

 

[Devils Flower]

I deal with an infestation by treating the entire flock with poultry dust, Gardstar from Tractor Supply or similar, as directed.

Whats in poultry dust?

 

[PippinTheChicken]

I recently had an infestation and I put Diatomaceous earth, rosemary, and sprayed the coop with antibac

 

[Perris]

I do the first five and the seventh in the poll, plus I disassemble and power-wash the coops if I do find mites.