? re: lice/mites

[cookinmom]

My chicks are still young, but I want to be prepared. How big of a problem are mites and/or lice in a flock of 10, in a warm climate?

What do I need to have on hand or be prepared to do to make sure my chickens don't get mites or lice?

I read someone's post about sprinkling Sevin dust where they bathe. How old do they need to be to do this?

 

[shandea]

From what I've read on this forum, I'm going to get some DE and sprinkle it in their dust bathing area. This link has some more info...

http://www.freshwaterorganics.com/

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

Here is the Material and Safety Data Sheet for Sevin-10 I would use with caution.
I utilize DE and Sweet PDZ along with a good sanitation program which includes cleaning the coop daily, adding ACV to their drinking water and fly control.
http://www.penningtonseed.com/section_images/chemicals/msds/Eliminator_10_SevinDust.pdf

 

[cookinmom]

I like the DE idea better than the Sevin. I'm leery of things that have to have a safety data sheet. I got some organic unfiltered ACV yesterday (Barnyard Dawg you were right -- it was like $5 for a quart! Not bad at all) I'm starting that in their water tomorrow morning. It tastes a lot better than the grocery store kind, too.

I think I'll get some sand and dump it out for them, put some DE on it, and that will give them a clean "bathtub" along with pest control, and (at least while they're chicks) some grit.

Does that sound like it would work to y'all?

 

[Barnyard Dawg]

I think you're goin to have some healthy and happy chicks cookinmom.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

First off, you likely will not have much trouble for the first 2 years if you are on new ground that has not had chickens before. It takes a bit for the pestilence population to grow enough to cause problems...unless you are one of the unlucky ones that has lice/mites in the area. But be aware that they are species specific, so again, if this is new ground to chickens, you will likely have no pest problems for about 2 years. Then, you have to start treatment.

I know it is popular to like DE, but please be aware there IS a data sheet on that stuff. Breathe in enough of it and you, and your birds, can get Silicosis because it is finally ground shells of sea animals. http://npic.orst.edu/factsheets/degen.html

My Vet Tech daughter strongly discouraged me from dusting my birds with the stuff or shaking it around the coop area.

I personally prefer permethrin powder sprinkled around (you can purchase the natural stuff made from Chrysanthramums called pyrethrin). You can also use wood ash.

But I stay away from DE with sensitive bird lungs....and for my own lungs.

My thoughts.
LofMc

 

[cmom]

This is an old thread but your advice is pertinent.

 

[Lady of McCamley]

LOL...didn't notice it was a Zombie in my feed. Oh well. Hope the OP has a great flock now.