Pests- PLEASE Tell me if this is OK????

[harewizard]

I discovered Red mites in my coop yesterday. Saw them under the pine shavings. After reading up on them, it makes sense now why the girls are looking a little down and egg production is off. I had a lot of running around to do today and while out I picked up:

Permethrin 10% Spray
Sevin 5% Dust
Vi-Tal Supplement

Tomorrow is supposed to be in the 80's. My plan is to strip out the coop and remove everything to bare bones. Spray with the Permethrin and coat all areas of the coop. Scrub the perches down and soak them with the spray.

I would like to 'dip' the girls in Permethrin solution. I read that you can add a few drops of baby shampoo to help as a wetting agent. The warm weather tomorrow will help them dry.

The Sevin dust, I would like to add to the girls, sand(bath) box. A mixture of sand and Sevin.

The Vi-Tal, I added to their water today, and I would like to keep them on the vitamins for the next few weeks.

Any problems you forsee? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Lisa

 

[Ridgerunner]

I know people do it, but I personally don't like Sevin in the dust bath. It just does not seem healthy for them and you to be breathing the insecticide a lot. When you treat mites with Sevin dust, it is recommended that you wear a mask. I don't have any science behind that, just my personal opinion.

Why are you dipping? I haven't used permethrin but I thought it was supposed to be sprayed.

Good luck!

 

[harewizard]

Hi Ridgerunner,
Thanks for your opinion. I too, am leary of Sevin dust. It's just so gross to see red mites in the coop and than know they are on the girls. Does seem kind of drastic...... I'll have to re-think that one.

I read online about dipping poultry in permethrin, as well as spraying it on the coop. Here is what I read:

Mites can be removed also by dipping, however, as mentioned earlier, Moxidectin can be used in the birds’ drinking water to kill mites on the bird at that time. With mite infestation, however, it is vital to also treat the pen at the same time otherwise reinfection quickly occurs. When treating the pen, it is scraped and cleaned out as normal but then an insecticide is misted onto the scraped surfaces and into the nooks and crannies. This is usually done on the morning of a warm day and when the pen is dry after a few hours, the birds are readmitted. The recommended insecticidal spray is Permethrin. This is available in a number of preparations but I find it easiest to use as a water-soluble liquid where it is diluted 10 - 20 ml/l. Permethrin is also the dip of choice in chickens. To prepare the dip, add the Permethrin at the same rate of 10 - 20 ml per litre of water and add also a wetting agent such as baby shampoo or a few shavings off a bar of soap. Ensure that the water is warm and dip the birds in the morning of a warm day so that they have a chance to dry before nightfall.

What do you think??

Lisa
P.S. My relatives on my dad's side of the family are from Johnson City, Tenn.
Chandler? Edwards?

 

[Ridgerunner]

I grew up north of Knoxville, a long way from Johnson City. I do have Edwards as relatives, however. It's a common name there.

I have no doubt dipping will kill any mites on the chickens. I think dipping may prove a little physically challenging. Chickens don't like water and will probably protest vigorously. You might get wet and go through a lot of dip. Your choice.

During daytime, few red mites will be on the chickens. They normally stay in the coop during the day and attack the chickens at night. That's why it is important to get all the nooks and crannies with the spray and why Sevin dust does not work in cleaning the coop. To help prevent red mites, many people coat the bottom half of their roosts with used motor oil.

Red mites can kill chickens. A University of Arkansas Ag professor told me that red mites kill more broody hens than anything else. They are not just annoying. They are dangerous.

I don't mind Sevin dust. I think it is a great way to kill Northern mites and lice. It is just not good for red mites as they are not on the chickens during the day and you have to treat the coop when you treat the chickens.