Please help- mites

[LucyChicken]

I've had an ongoing problem with mites for over half a year. I managed to get rid of them (red and northern) by removing the chickens from the house and spraying it with 'Jeyes liquid' and left it for a few months, keeping the chickens elsewhere. However, it seems as soon as I moved them back (even after thoroughly powdering them) the run and the chickens were suddenly infested again. I've cleaned out the house using loads of products, diatom powder didn't work, I used total mite powder, disinfectant, i've sprayed the run with a power hose and disinfected it and the chickens too, but the mites seem to still be there. The hens are no longer laying either and whenever I handle a chicken I end up covered in mites.

I live in the UK and haven't been able to find a thread with a clear idea of what to do or what products to buy, but i'm sick of these mites and my chickens are starting to look ill and I feel helpless! Thanks!

 

[LucyChicken]

Anyone!? I'm desperate!

 

[HappyHenFarm78]

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/801102/mite-infestation/10#post_11600254 see this mite conversation. I am in Maine and I too am battling mites and can't seem to get ahead of them...I think I MIGHT be finally. My last post describes some things I did... it has seemed to HELP. I picked up a few birds today and they seem mite free...I dosed them all with Ivermectin pour-on. I thoroughly sprayed the coop with permethrin spray and then every day after I used 'poultry protector to spray the surfaces again and again. I used to get mites crawling all over my hands and up my arms anytime I touched the nest boxes but now- I have not felt a thing.

We bought a NEEM oil base yard spray that we will try if this rain ever stops.

You also need to trim any mite/lice egg-lined feathers because most products do not kill eggs. They lay millions of tiny eggs on your chickens vent feathers (typically)and it looks like sand clumped feathers , even if you treat the birds and runs those eggs are always hatching and making new mite infestations... so it appears that nothing you do is working...

I have cried over these mites- I kNOW what you are going thru!!!! My fear is that I will have to keep up this regiment of spraying and dusting and treating and I will go poor or insane- which ever comes first!

 

[LucyChicken]

Thank you SO much!! I will try all of that! I'm just so fed up of them everywhere!

 

[MrsBachbach]

If it's available in the UK, I would use Frontline spray. Has a picture of a dog and cat on the bottle. Spray just a tiny squirt under their vent on the skin and under each wing on the skin for a LF. It works and lasts a long time. As far as the house goes, I would try DE and use an atomizer to get into every nook and cranny.