Please help!! Red mite infestation

[Nikki71]

I have been wondering why my four silkie bantams are losing weight, not laying and suddenly refusing to go into the coop at night. Tonight I saw an infestation of red mites on the nesting boxes and perches. I am a chicken newbie and I don’t know what to do.
For tonight I have moved my girls into the outside run into a big plastic travel box with a towel to sleep on. But what now? How do I get the mites out of the coop? How do I de-mite my silkies??They are adored pets and I’m distraught. Please tell me what I need to do? What’s the best product? Any advice very gratefully received.

 

[coach723]

Using something with permethrin in it is your best bet for getting rid of them. Aristopet Bird Lice and Mite Spray contains permethrin. Coopex powder is also permethrin. You have to treat both the birds and the coop, clean out the coop, discard all bedding and nesting material, and spray the whole coop getting all the nooks and crannies. You need to repeat at least 3 times at weekly intervals to get any that continue to hatch. Red mites and scaly leg mites are two different things with different treatments. The mites live in the coop, the scaly leg mites are microscopic and burrow into the scales on the legs and feet.
https://www.aussiechooksupplies.com.au/product/coopex-powder-25g/
https://birdsville.net.au/medicines/mite-lice/aristopet-mite-lice-spray/
More info on mites and treatment:
https://the-chicken-chick.com/poultry-lice-and-mites-identification/
https://the-chicken-chick.com/scaly-leg-mites-in-chickens/

 

[Nikki71]

Thank you so much everyone for your responses. I have moved past the totally freaked stage and am now engaged in full scale mite warfare. I have moved the chooks into a different coop, burned all the wood chip in the old coop, sprayed every surface with Ativan mite liquidator and treated the birds. I have also washed everything down with half water/ half oil. The bad news is, my ‘piece of white rag’ tester indicates that I’ve scarcely made a dent . I have ordered Coopex and will try with that tomorrow. Wish me luck!

 

[coach723]

Microscopic scaly leg mites cannot be seen with the eye, you need a microscope. You only see the evidence of them in the damage to the leg and feet scales. Since you see the tiny mites in the coop then I agree with what you think you have.

 

[Nikki71]

I left a piece of white cloth in the coop overnight and here it is this morning..

 

[Vickischics]

I left a piece of white cloth in the coop overnight and here it is this morning..

Im sorry your experiencing this.
I don't use DE anymore.
The fine dust is not good for you nor your flock to breathe. Plus, the bugs have to get themselves covered in it.
I use Permethrin concentrate from Tractor Supply and spray it everywhere.
If you Dip the chickens too, Two people is suggested if needed.
Allow them to air dry in a nice clean warm place. Them feed them a good ol scrambled egg.
@ Casportpony reported this info

 

[Nikki71]

Thank you so much for answering. Tomorrow I will empty out their house of all woodchip etc... and spray/ disinfect. I will also put Vaseline on their legs. I’m going to try to get some ‘Poultry Shield’ but I am struggling to find any for sale in Melbourne.

 

[Nikki71]

I could see them crawling on the wood and wood shavings. They looked like microscopic gray dots. So my best guess was red mites.

 

[Nikki71]

My coop is a hideously expensive timber kids cubby house (with porch, letterbox and proper windows: they saw us coming a mile off ) that was used for all of 2 years or so and then abandoned. So I converted it to a coop. I installed an automatic chicken guard door, had perches and boxes built, and laid wood chip on the floor. It was wonderful until the mites came and ruined it. It’s impossible to get into every nook and cranny. But I waited until dark in the hope that they’d come out, and I flea bombed the coop.
I have four silkie hens about 10-12 months old. Three had started laying. But none have laid an egg in weeks. I’m assuming that’s a normal reaction to the mites . They are currently all installed in a fox proof day run with plastic sheeting and green canvas tarps over the top, and a big plastic travel pet box inside with newspapers (where they sleep). They must be so confused, poor buggers. But better that than bitten all night.

 

[Wyorp Rock]

Update: after three weeks and hundreds of dollars worth of product, I finally got rid of the mites. I have put my four silkies back in their coop.
But here’s the thing. They are still reluctant to go in at night and even when they do go in, they sleep on the floor and avoid the nesting boxes. I have put a white rag in the coop and checked it in the morning- no mites. I have stood in the coop at night with a torch, inspecting every surface. Nothing whatsoever.
They were in the alternate coop for three weeks. Is it possible they still have negative associations? Or could the mites still be there and I can’t see them. I looked carefully, it seems unlikely. I saw them well enough the first time

Being housed somewhere else for 3 weeks was long enough to make this coop "new" to them. It may take them several days to figure out this is where they are to "live". Just put them in there at night, they will adjust.

I've never had Silkies, but my understanding is that most do not roost and prefer to sleep on the floor. Nesting boxes are for laying eggs - a lot depends on location of boxes, how they are made, etc. Some birds prefer a darker/quieter corner to lay eggs. I have a few hens that use the boxes, while the others prefer the back corner.