Plastic or wood coop after tick infestation

[pjstar]

Your photo doesn't look like ticks, more like sow bugs. The link shows pictures of mites. I'm not from the south, so maybe ticks look different down there.

As far as wood or plastic? That's not necessarily the question, as it has more to do with cracks that parasites can hide in.

I thought they were sow bugs too, initially and did nothing since sow bugs are harmless to chick. If you click on any of the links I provided from bug experts at Whats That Bug, it’s an exact match. I was horrified when I saw them attached to my girls. My recommendation is to treat your girls, the coop and area immediately before true infestation sets in

 

[pjstar]

Phoenix Arizona. Never had ticks before until December last year when I found ticks on my dog both Lone Star and run of mill dog ticks (hard ticks). I had her tested for Rocky Mtn, Lyme, and other potential infection. Shes ok. Then now chicks have different type of ticks, soft bodied ticks (see embedded article), brought in, likely, from mourning doves that come in for chick food.

 

[pjstar]

Is the Demand CS labeled for use in poultry houses? It looks like pretty nasty stuff to me (just looked it up) and I wonder why you didn't use permethrin spray instead? Probably no bug will survive in that coop, but it seems like overkill, in a big way. Mary

I found one tick today, barely alive, though. I am using permethrin, powder not spray. Do you think spray is better on wood?

 

[Crooked Chicken]

I thought they were sow bugs too, initially and did nothing since sow bugs are harmless to chick. If you click on any of the links I provided from bug experts at Whats That Bug, it’s an exact match. I was horrified when I saw them attached to my girls. My recommendation is to treat your girls, the coop and area immediately before true infestation sets in

Yeah, those bugs in the photo you shared from "What's that bug" aren't sow bugs. They could be soft ticks. Note: the photos and identification on that site are submitted by everyday people and not experts.

Take a look at these 2 links that have great information on the parasite identification, prevention and control.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mites-lice-treatment-and-prevention.64597/
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html

I think you did what you thought was best. I don't think you need a new coop or a plastic coop. People have been using wood coops for centuries. In fact, a plastic coop could promote a whole new set of issues, with moisture and humidity. The Chicken Chick (link #2) says that Elector PSP is veterinarian recommended and there is no egg withdrawal period.

 

[Folly's place]

Permethrin spray will work well on walls and in the nooks and crannies of a wood coop. Inexpensive, approved for poultry, and effective. After using the permethrin dust for years, I much prefer the spray. Mary

 

[Folly's place]

Crocked Chicken, I wasn't referring to the ticks in the coop; they'll all be dead or dying. I was referring to the insecticide used by the pest control people, very nasty stuff! Mary

 

[pjstar]

Yeah, those bugs in the photo you shared from "What's that bug" aren't sow bugs. They could be soft ticks. Note: the photos and identification on that site are submitted by everyday people and not experts.

Take a look at these 2 links that have great information on the parasite identification, prevention and control.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/mites-lice-treatment-and-prevention.64597/
http://www.the-chicken-chick.com/2012/08/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification.html

I think you did what you thought was best. I don't think you need a new coop or a plastic coop. People have been using wood coops for centuries. In fact, a plastic coop could promote a whole new set of issues, with moisture and humidity. The Chicken Chick (link #2) says that Elector PSP is veterinarian recommended and there is no egg withdrawal period.

I don’t see that Elector psp kills ticks....hard or soft...

 

[Folly's place]

I agree; it's labeled for fleas on dogs and cats, not for ticks. It (spinosad) also can be toxic when ivermectin is used at the same time/ close together, as the two drugs are similar. Mary

 

[igorsMistress]

Phoenix Arizona. Never had ticks before until December last year when I found ticks on my dog both Lone Star and run of mill dog ticks (hard ticks). I had her tested for Rocky Mtn, Lyme, and other potential infection. Shes ok. Then now chicks have different type of ticks, soft bodied ticks (see embedded article), brought in, likely, from mourning doves that come in for chick food.

I've lived in Phoenix 14 years and didn't have ticks until 2 years ago. I do have a lot of doves in my yard, going to look over my birds closely.
We had to risk a pill for our dogs this year because nothing was working. It works, but I don't like it.
I would stick with wood and perhaps pretreat when tick season comes. Plastic degrades in our sun so fast here. I think it's easier to maintain wood in a piecemeal fashion and have it all match. Plus there will still be cracks and crevices in a plastic coop.
Good luck, I get the heebie jeebies just thinking about ticks. Please let us know when you decide between wood or plastic and why. I'm curious.

 

[pjstar]

I've lived in Phoenix 14 years and didn't have ticks until 2 years ago. I do have a lot of doves in my yard, going to look over my birds closely.
We had to risk a pill for our dogs this year because nothing was working. It works, but I don't like it.
I would stick with wood and perhaps pretreat when tick season comes. Plastic degrades in our sun so fast here. I think it's easier to maintain wood in a piecemeal fashion and have it all match. Plus there will still be cracks and crevices in a plastic coop.
Good luck, I get the heebie jeebies just thinking about ticks. Please let us know when you decide between wood or plastic and why. I'm curious.

Yes, me too. BTW, I did Seresto 6 month dog collar=no ticks, then switched to monthly pills for swim season=no ticks, will switch back to collar after swim season. Wish there was a little collar for chicks.